Microbodies and Peroxisomes: Structure, Enzymes and Functions
Biology · Cell: The Unit of Life · NEET
Microbodies are many tiny, membrane-bound vesicles that contain various enzymes. NCERT says clearly that microbodies are present in BOTH plant and animal cells. A peroxisome is one common type of microbody. Memory hook: "micro = small bag, bodies = many, both plants and animals."
A microbody such as a peroxisome: a single membrane-bound vesicle filled with enzymes, found in both plant and animal cells but absent in prokaryotes and outside the endomembrane system.
Your doubts, answered
Are microbodies membrane-bound or not? This confuses me.
Microbodies ARE membrane-bound. NCERT lists them among the membrane-bound organelles (ER, Golgi, lysosomes, mitochondria, microbodies, vacuoles). The exact NCERT line (8.5.11) says: "many membrane bound minute vesicles called microbodies that contain various enzymes." So each microbody has a single boundary membrane around it. Do not confuse them with ribosomes, which are non-membrane-bound. This is a very common NEET trap.
Are microbodies found in plant cells only, or in both?
BOTH plant and animal cells. This is directly stated in NCERT and has been tested in NEET 2019 and NEET 2022. If an exam statement says "Microbodies are present both in plant and animal cells," that statement is CORRECT. Never mark it wrong.
Is a peroxisome a microbody? Are they the same thing?
A peroxisome is a TYPE of microbody. Microbody is the general name for these tiny enzyme-filled vesicles. Peroxisome is one common example. So all peroxisomes are microbodies, but the word microbody is the broader term. Other examples of microbodies include glyoxysomes (found in plant cells).
Are microbodies part of the endomembrane system?
No. The endomembrane system includes only ER, Golgi complex, lysosomes and vacuoles. Mitochondria, chloroplasts and peroxisomes (microbodies) are NOT part of it, because their functions are not coordinated with the endomembrane organelles. NEET 2023 and ReNEET 2026 both tested this exact point.
Do prokaryotes (bacteria) have peroxisomes or microbodies?
No. Prokaryotic cells lack membrane-bound organelles. Since microbodies and peroxisomes are membrane-bound, bacteria do NOT have them. ReNEET 2026 tested this: a statement saying prokaryotes "have peroxisomes" is FALSE.
What is inside a peroxisome? What does it do?
A peroxisome contains various enzymes. It is involved in reactions that produce and then break down hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), a harmful by-product. For NEET, the key NCERT-level fact is simply: microbodies are membrane-bound vesicles containing enzymes, present in plant and animal cells. Deep enzyme names are beyond the NCERT line, so focus on that core statement.
⚠️ The NEET trap ✗ Microbodies are non-membrane-bound and are found only in plant cells. ✓ Microbodies ARE membrane-bound vesicles and are found in BOTH plant and animal cells (NCERT 8.5.11). 🧠 NEET loves to flip two facts at once: the membrane and the location. Lock both: membrane-bound + both plant and animal.
Real NEET questions
2019 / 2022
Which of the following is an incorrect statement?
A · The perinuclear space forms a barrier between the materials present inside the nucleus and that of the cytoplasm
B · Nuclear pores act as passages for proteins and RNA molecules in both directions between nucleus and cytoplasm
C · Mature sieve tube elements possess a conspicuous nucleus and usual cytoplasmic organelles ✓
D · Microbodies are present both in plant and animal cells
Solution: Statement C is the incorrect one: mature sieve tube elements lack a nucleus at maturity, so they do NOT possess a conspicuous nucleus. Statement D about microbodies is CORRECT: NCERT clearly states microbodies occur in both plant and animal cells. This is why D must never be marked as the wrong option.
2023
Which of the following are NOT considered as the part of endomembrane system? A. Mitochondria B. Endoplasmic Reticulum C. Chloroplasts D. Golgi complex E. Peroxisomes
A · B and D only
B · A, C and E only ✓
C · A and D only
D · A, D and E only
Solution: The endomembrane system includes only ER, Golgi complex, lysosomes and vacuoles. Mitochondria (A), chloroplasts (C) and peroxisomes (E) are NOT part of it, because their functions are not coordinated with those organelles. So the items NOT included are A, C and E. Peroxisomes are microbodies, and microbodies stay outside the endomembrane system.
2026
Which of the following are characteristics of prokaryotic cells? (a) Ribosomes are made of 50S and 30S subunits; (b) They can have plasmids; (c) They contain mesosome; (d) They have peroxisomes.
A · (b) and (c) only
B · (a) and (c) only
C · (a), (c) and (d) only
D · (a), (b) and (c) only ✓
Solution: Prokaryotic ribosomes are 70S (50S + 30S) (a true), they can carry plasmids (b true), and they have mesosomes (c true). But prokaryotes LACK membrane-bound organelles, so they do NOT have peroxisomes (d false). Correct set = (a), (b) and (c). Remember: peroxisomes are membrane-bound microbodies, absent in bacteria.
Solved Cell: The Unit of Life NEET PYQs
Try the real previous-year questions from this chapter — each with the answer and a full solution.
