Cell Basics

Chapter 31: Page 306<br />

So how does a cell get rid of its waste<br />

Getting rid of waste is the job of the lysosome. Think of<br />

this organelle as the “garbage disposal” of the cell.<br />

Whenever you put garbage in the garbage disposal, it<br />

breaks it apart into smaller pieces. When the pieces are<br />

small enough, it gets flushed down the drain! A lysosome<br />

does the same thing with the waste inside a cell.<br />

Inside this<br />

organelle you<br />

will find<br />

enzymes that<br />

break down<br />

the waste that<br />

is trapped in<br />

the cell.<br />

Remember that enzymes are chemicals that your body uses<br />

to do all kinds of things...including breaking down your<br />

waste into smaller, more usable pieces.<br />

Most businesses store their materials somewhere.<br />

How does a cell store its materials