Granular ER differs from SER in having

Options

A. Ribosomes on its surface
B. No ribosomes
C. Active role in steroid synthesis
D. Both B and C

Answer

To answer the question "Granular ER differs from SER in having," we need to analyze the differences between Granular Endoplasmic Reticulum (GER) and Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER). Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

### Step 1: Define Granular ER and SER
- Granular Endoplasmic Reticulum (GER), also known as Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER), is characterized by the presence of ribosomes on its surface.
- Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER) is also referred to as Agranular Endoplasmic Reticulum and is smooth in appearance because it lacks ribosomes.

**Hint:** Remember the terminology: "granular" refers to the presence of ribosomes, while "smooth" indicates their absence.

### Step 2: Identify the Function of Each Type
- The primary function of Granular ER (RER) is protein synthesis due to the ribosomes that translate mRNA into proteins.
- The Smooth ER (SER) is involved in lipid synthesis, metabolism of carbohydrates, and detoxification processes, including steroid synthesis.

**Hint:** Focus on what each type of ER is responsible for in the cell—protein synthesis for RER and lipid synthesis for SER.

### Step 3: Analyze the Options Given
1. **Ribosomes on its surface** - This is true for Granular ER (RER).
2. **No ribosomes** - This is true for SER.
3. **Active role in steroid synthesis** - This is a characteristic of SER, not RER.
4. **Both B and C** - This suggests that both statements about SER are true, which is not relevant to the question about how GER differs from SER.

**Hint:** The question specifically asks how Granular ER differs from SER, so focus on the first option.

### Step 4: Conclusion
From the analysis, we conclude that Granular ER differs from SER in having ribosomes on its surface. Therefore, the correct answer is the first option.

**Final Answer:** Granular ER differs from SER in having ribosomes on its surface.