alleryStart learning →In animal cells, which structure serves as the microtubule-organizing center?
AThe centrosome
BThe nucleolus
CThe centromere
DThe peroxisome
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: A. The centrosome
1. Microtubules are the structural elements of flagella, cilia and centrioles.
2. The centrioles are the two perpendicular bodies of the centrosome.
3. In animal cells the centrosome is the microtubule-organizing center, and all microtubules originate there.
4. The nucleolus assembles ribosomal subunits, so it plays no part in organizing microtubules.
5. The organizing center is the centrosome.
_Source: OpenStax Biology (1st ed., CC BY 4.0), Ch 4 "Cell Structure", section 4.5 The Cytoskeleton_
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