The name lysosome means "releasing body" and the lysosome preforms lysis, or digestion of certain materials. This means that the lysosome is responsible for breaking down all of the cells waste. So when cell parts become worn out or bacteria invade a cell the lysosome engulf it and digest it with enzymes so powerful they have the ability to kill the organism the cell is a part of. These enzymes are produced in the rough endoplasmic reticulum and then almost immediately packaged by the Golgi. This prevents the digestive enzymes, in the lysosome, from damaging anything. Lysosomes are found in abundance through out the cells in the digestive system to aid in the digestion process. The lysosome was first observed in 1950 by Christian de Duve.
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