Question: How are lysosomes similar to kidneys?

Eoin McKinney answered on 6 Nov 2017:

Lysosomes contain proteins called enzymes and they can engulf (basically, eat) many different things from viruses and bacteria to old or damaged organelles (in a process called ‘autophagy’, basically ‘eating yourself’). They all break down what they take up – and so play a role in removing waste, or at least recycling it. The kidneys take up a huge amount fluid every day – by filtering the blood rather than engulfing it – and similarly select the waste that should be removed. The kidneys also recycle proteins, salts and chemicals. So both lysosomes and the kidneys participate in waste management, but they do it in very different ways.