Guard cells differ from epidermal cells in having

Options

A. Mitochondria
B. Vacuoles
C. Cell wall
D. Chloroplasts

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Guard Cells and Epidermal Cells**:
- Guard cells are specialized cells that surround the stomata (small openings on leaves) and are responsible for regulating the opening and closing of these stomata.
- Epidermal cells, on the other hand, are the outermost layer of cells on the leaf surface and serve as a protective barrier.

2. **Identifying Key Differences**:
- The main difference between guard cells and epidermal cells lies in their structure and function.
- Guard cells are unique in their ability to change shape, which allows them to open and close the stomata.

3. **Examining the Options**:
- The options provided are: mitochondria, vacuoles, cell wall, and chloroplasts.
- We need to determine which of these structures is present in guard cells but not in epidermal cells.

4. **Analyzing Each Option**:
- **Mitochondria**: Both guard cells and epidermal cells contain mitochondria, as they are essential for cellular respiration.
- **Vacuoles**: Both types of cells also have vacuoles, which are important for storage and maintaining turgor pressure.
- **Cell Wall**: Both guard cells and epidermal cells have a cell wall, which provides structure and support.
- **Chloroplasts**: Guard cells contain chloroplasts, which allow them to perform photosynthesis. Epidermal cells do not have chloroplasts.

5. **Conclusion**:
- The correct answer is that guard cells differ from epidermal cells in having chloroplasts. This is because chloroplasts enable guard cells to carry out photosynthesis, a function not performed by epidermal cells.

**Final Answer**: Guard cells differ from epidermal cells in having chloroplasts.

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