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Centrioles — location and role in cell division
publish date: 2026/06/16 20:56:51.095923 UTC
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During interphase in animal cells, but not in most plant cells, two cylindrical bodies oriented at right angles to each other are found just outside the nucleus. They move apart and organize the mitotic apparatus of the dividing cell. These organelles are what?
Correct Answer
centrioles
Explanation
Centrioles are the cylindrical organelles found in pairs just outside the nucleus in animal cells during interphase, oriented at right angles to each other. As mitosis (or meiosis) begins, centrioles move apart and organize the mitotic spindle — the microtubule apparatus that aligns and separates chromosomes. Most higher plant cells lack centrioles yet still form spindle fibers (but no asters).
Reference
Biology: A Self-Teaching Guide