Which of the following is a characteristic of cells related to irritability?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks which cell characteristic is related to irritability. This is a term for one of the characteristics of living things.

Step 2: Explain the concept In Biology, irritability (also called sensitivity) is the ability of an organism or cell to detect changes in its environment (stimuli) and respond to them. Examples:

• A plant shoot bending toward light (phototropism)
• You withdrawing your hand from a hot object
• An amoeba moving away from a harmful chemical

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Ability to respond to stimuli: This is the definition of irritability. ✔
• B. Ability to synthesize proteins: This relates to protein synthesis and growth, which happens at the ribosomes, not to irritability.
• C. Ability to generate energy: This relates to respiration and metabolism (mitochondria).
• D. Ability to replicate DNA: This relates to reproduction and cell division, and to heredity.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is A. Ability to respond to stimuli.

Tip: Link the word to its meaning: irritable means "easily reacts to something." Irritability = sensitivity = response to stimuli. Also remember the other characteristics of living things with the mnemonic MRS GREN (Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity/irritability, Growth, Reproduction, Excretion, Nutrition).