Question

Function of Centrosome is
(a) Initiation of cell division
(b) Inhibition of cell division
(c) Termination of cell division
(d) To perform cytokinesis

Answer 1

Hint: The microtubules attached to the kinetochore of the chromosome helps to pull the two sister chromatids apart for their division.

Complete answer:
The main function of the centrosome is the initiation of cell division.

Additional Information:
1. The word centrosome originated from the Latin word ‘centrum' meaning center and the Greek word ‘soma' meaning body.
2. Edouard Van Beneden is credited with the discovery of centrosomes in 1883. Later, it was named by Theodor Boveri in 1888.
3. The centrosome is a cell organelle consisting of two centrioles aligned at an angle of 90° to each other. They remain surrounded by an amorphous, clear fluid known as PCM (pericentriolar material). It is also known as MTOC i.e. Microtubule Organising Centre of the animal cell.
4. They maintain the number of chromosomes during each cell division. During prophase of mitosis, the centrosomes migrate to opposite poles of the cell. The mitotic spindle then forms between these two centrosomes.
5. The centriole is also responsible for the formation of cilia and flagella.
6. The centrosome replicates during the S phase of the cell cycle so that each daughter cell receives one copy of the centrosome.

So, the correct answer is ‘initiation of cell division’.
Note:
1. The presence of a centrosome is a typical characteristic of the animal cell. Plants and fungus completely lack a centrosome. It is also absent in some species of fly and flatworms.
2. The PCM consists of certain proteins like tubulin, ninein, and pericentrin which help in microtubule nucleation and anchorage.
3. The microtubules present in flagella and cilia are arranged in a (9+2) fashion.