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Do any plant cells have centrioles?

Published in Plant Cell Biology 2 mins read

No, higher plant cells do not have centrioles.

Centrioles are cellular structures important in cell division and in the formation of cilia and flagella. Here’s a breakdown of their presence:

  • Animal Cells: Centrioles are a key component in animal cells.
  • Lower Plants: Centrioles are present in some lower plants, specifically at the base of their cilia and flagella, where they are called basal bodies, but are functionally the same as centrioles. A classic example includes the lower plant Chlamydomonas.
  • Higher Plants: Based on the provided reference, centrioles are absent from the cells of higher plants. This is an important distinction in cell biology.

Here's a table summarizing the centriole presence:

Cell Type Centrioles Presence Notes
Animal Cells Present Key for cell division.
Lower Plants Present in some Found at the base of cilia and flagella as basal bodies.
Higher Plants Absent Completely absent.

In summary, while centrioles are common in animal cells and lower plants at the base of their flagella and cilia, they are absent in the cells of higher plants.

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