What is the main function of a cell wall?

The main function of a cell wall is to provide structure and protection to plant cells. This rigid outer layer gives plant cells their shape and helps support the overall structure of the plant. Composed primarily of cellulose, the cell wall acts as a barrier, preventing excess water uptake and protecting the cell from mechanical stress and pathogens. Unlike animal cells, which only have a flexible cell membrane, the presence of a cell wall in plant cells is crucial for maintaining turgor pressure, which is necessary for the plant to remain upright and carry out photosynthesis effectively.

The other options focus on functions that are typically performed by different cell components. While communication between cells is primarily facilitated by gap junctions in animals or plasmodesmata in plants, the regulation of what enters and leaves the cell is managed by the cell membrane, which selectively allows substances to pass through. Lastly, the storage of genetic information is a function attributed to DNA located within the nucleus of the cell, not the cell wall. Thus, the role of the cell wall is specific and vital primarily to plant cells, highlighting its significance in providing structure and protection.