Which organelle contains the cell's genetic material and controls the cell's activities?

• A. Nucleus
• B. Ribosome
• C. Mitochondria
• D. Golgi apparatus

Answer: (A)

The nucleus is the organelle that houses the cell’s genetic material and coordinates its activities. It stores DNA, organized into chromosomes, and controls gene expression—transcribing DNA into mRNA and guiding which proteins the cell makes. Those proteins then drive almost all cellular functions, from metabolism to growth and response to signals. Other organelles have important roles as well—mitochondria generate energy and contain some DNA, ribosomes make proteins, and the Golgi apparatus processes and ships molecules—but they do not supervise the cell’s overall genetic control. So the nucleus best fits both storing the genetic material and directing the cell’s activities.