Which organelle detoxifies chemicals and synthesizes lipids?

• A. Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum
• B. Golgi apparatus
• C. Nucleus
• D. Mitochondrion

Answer: (A)

Detoxification and lipid synthesis are functions strongly associated with the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. This organelle lacks ribosomes, giving it a smooth look, and houses enzymes that modify drugs and toxins to make them easier to remove from the cell. In addition to detoxification, the smooth ER synthesizes lipids such as phospholipids for membranes and, in certain tissues, steroid hormones, supporting both membrane formation and specialized signaling needs. The other organelles have different primary roles: the Golgi apparatus processes and ships proteins and lipids; the nucleus stores and manages genetic information; and mitochondria generate most of the cell’s ATP, with some fatty acid oxidation but not the main site of detoxification and lipid synthesis.