American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC) Practice Exam

Which component of the cell is responsible for hereditary characteristics?

1. Cell membrane

2. Chromosomes

3. Mitochondria

4. Cytoplasm

The correct answer is: Chromosomes

The component of the cell that is responsible for hereditary characteristics is chromosomes. Chromosomes are structures within the cell nucleus that contain DNA, which carries genetic information. This genetic material is responsible for the inheritance of traits and is organized into genes that dictate various biological functions, including physical characteristics, behaviors, and predispositions to certain diseases. In humans and many other organisms, chromosomes are paired, with each pair consisting of one chromosome inherited from each parent. This pairing and the specific arrangement of genes within the chromosomes allow for the transmission of hereditary traits across generations. Other components, such as the cell membrane, mitochondria, and cytoplasm, do not play a direct role in the encoding or transmission of genetic information. The cell membrane serves as a barrier protecting the cell and regulating the movement of substances in and out, mitochondria function as the powerhouse of the cell by generating energy, and the cytoplasm is the gel-like substance where cellular processes occur but does not house genetic material in the way that chromosomes do. Thus, chromosomes are the critical elements for understanding heredity and genetic inheritance.