Although terminally differentiated cells do not divide, the nuclei in these cells are still that site of what important function?
Carbohydrate synthesis
DNA synthesis
mRNA synthesis
protein synthesis
Well, well, well, look who's curious about cells! Despite terminally differentiated cells not dividing, their nuclei are still rockin' it in the protein synthesis department. That's right, even though these cells have hung up their division boots, their nuclei are still putting in overtime to pump out those proteins like it's nobody's business. So, you could say that the nuclei in these cells are like the manufacturing plants of the cell, churning out all the necessary proteins. Keep up the good work, nuclei!
The important function that occurs in the nuclei of terminally differentiated cells is mRNA synthesis. To understand why this is the case, let's break down each of the options you provided.
1. Carbohydrate synthesis: Carbohydrates are synthesized in the cytoplasm of cells, not in the nuclei.
2. DNA synthesis: DNA replication, which involves the synthesis of new DNA strands, occurs during the cell division process. Since terminally differentiated cells do not divide, DNA synthesis is not the crucial function in their nuclei.
3. mRNA synthesis: Messenger RNA (mRNA) is a type of RNA molecule that carries genetic information from the DNA in the nucleus to the ribosomes in the cytoplasm. In the nucleus, the process of transcription takes place, during which DNA is used as a template to produce mRNA. This mRNA is then exported out of the nucleus and serves as a template for protein synthesis.
4. Protein synthesis: Protein synthesis occurs in the ribosomes, which are located in the cytoplasm. While the mRNA created in the nucleus is responsible for guiding protein synthesis, the synthesis itself occurs in the cytoplasm.
Therefore, the correct answer is that the nuclei of terminally differentiated cells are the site of mRNA synthesis.