Which component houses the genetic material in the cell?

• A. Cytoplasm
• B. Nucleus
• C. Mitochondria
• D. Ribosome

Answer: (B)

Genetic material in most cells is stored in the nucleus, which acts as the cell’s command center. DNA is organized into chromosomes inside the nucleus, guiding which proteins the cell should make and when. The nuclear envelope surrounds the nucleus and has pores that control what enters and exits, including the transit of RNA and proteins. Inside the nucleus, the nucleolus helps assemble ribosomal RNA components needed for protein synthesis.

While mitochondria do contain some DNA, it’s only a small, separate set of genes; the main genome is housed in the nucleus. The cytoplasm is the fluid and space where many metabolic processes occur and where organelles are located, but it is not the primary repository for genetic material. Ribosomes, on the other hand, are the molecular machines that translate genetic information into proteins.