Advanced Placement (AP) Biology Practice Exam

What does the cytoplasm contain?

1. The nucleus and all cell organelles

2. The contents of the cell exclusive of the nucleus

3. The genetic material of the cell

4. The plasma membrane only

The correct answer is: The contents of the cell exclusive of the nucleus

The cytoplasm is the gel-like substance that fills the interior of a cell and is found between the plasma membrane and the nuclear membrane, if one is present. It contains a variety of components crucial for cellular function, such as organelles (like mitochondria and ribosomes), cytoskeletal elements, and various molecules necessary for metabolic reactions, excluding the nucleus itself. Therefore, describing the cytoplasm as encompassing the contents of the cell exclusive of the nucleus accurately reflects its composition. This definition distinguishes the cytoplasm from the nucleus, which houses the cell's genetic material and is not part of the cytoplasm. Other options do not accurately represent what the cytoplasm includes: it does not solely consist of the nucleus and organelles because that description blends the nuclear and cytoplasmic components; it does not refer exclusively to genetic material as that is specifically contained within the nucleus; and it is not defined merely by the plasma membrane, as the membrane surrounds the cytoplasm rather than being part of it.