Which cellular structure is primarily involved in organizing spindle fibers during the process of mitosis?
Solution
Correct Answer: Option A
The cellular structure primarily involved in organizing spindle fibers during mitosis is the centrosome.
- During mitosis, the centrosome plays a crucial role as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) of the cell.
- It duplicates before mitosis begins, and the two centrosomes migrate to opposite poles of the cell.
- From each centrosome, microtubules extend and form the spindle fibers, which are essential for the accurate segregation of chromosomes into the two daughter cells.
- These spindle fibers attach to the chromosomes at the kinetochores and help in aligning them at the metaphase plate and pulling sister chromatids apart during anaphase.
Other options:
- The Golgi apparatus is involved in protein modification and trafficking, not spindle formation.
- The nucleolus is responsible for ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome assembly.
- The endoplasmic reticulum functions in protein and lipid synthesis.
Thus, the centrosome is the correct answer as it organizes the spindle fibers critical for mitotic chromosome segregation.
Reference: Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th Edition, Chapter 18: The Cell Cycle and Mitosis / Page 963
- During mitosis, the centrosome plays a crucial role as the main microtubule organizing center (MTOC) of the cell.
- It duplicates before mitosis begins, and the two centrosomes migrate to opposite poles of the cell.
- From each centrosome, microtubules extend and form the spindle fibers, which are essential for the accurate segregation of chromosomes into the two daughter cells.
- These spindle fibers attach to the chromosomes at the kinetochores and help in aligning them at the metaphase plate and pulling sister chromatids apart during anaphase.
Other options:
- The Golgi apparatus is involved in protein modification and trafficking, not spindle formation.
- The nucleolus is responsible for ribosomal RNA synthesis and ribosome assembly.
- The endoplasmic reticulum functions in protein and lipid synthesis.
Thus, the centrosome is the correct answer as it organizes the spindle fibers critical for mitotic chromosome segregation.
Reference: Molecular Biology of the Cell, 6th Edition, Chapter 18: The Cell Cycle and Mitosis / Page 963
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