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Ch. 3 Cells: The Living Units
Marieb - Human Anatomy & Physiology 11th Edition
Marieb, Hoehn11th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874034Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMarieb, Hoehn 11th EditionCh. 3 Cells: The Living UnitsProblem 21
Chapter 3, Problem 21

Cell division typically yields two daughter cells, each with one nucleus. How is the occasional binucleate condition of liver cells explained?

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Understand that a binucleate cell contains two nuclei within a single cell membrane, which is different from the typical condition where each daughter cell has one nucleus after cell division.
Recall the process of mitosis followed by cytokinesis: mitosis divides the nucleus, and cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm, resulting in two separate cells each with one nucleus.
Recognize that in some liver cells, mitosis occurs normally, but cytokinesis is incomplete or delayed, leading to one cell with two nuclei instead of two separate cells.
Consider the physiological reasons why liver cells might become binucleate, such as increased metabolic demand or a mechanism to enhance protein synthesis without increasing cell number.
Summarize that the binucleate condition arises from nuclear division without complete cytoplasmic division, a phenomenon known as karyokinesis without cytokinesis.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Mitosis and Cytokinesis

Mitosis is the process where a cell's nucleus divides to form two nuclei, while cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm, resulting in two separate daughter cells. If cytokinesis fails or is incomplete after mitosis, a cell may end up with two nuclei, leading to a binucleate condition.
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Cytokinesis

Binucleate Cells in Liver Tissue

Liver cells (hepatocytes) often become binucleate as a normal physiological adaptation. This occurs because hepatocytes can undergo nuclear division without completing cytokinesis, which may enhance their metabolic capacity and regenerative potential.
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Lymphoid Cells & Tissues Example 1

Polyploidy and Cellular Function

Binucleate cells are related to polyploidy, where cells have multiple sets of chromosomes. In the liver, polyploidy and binucleation help cells manage increased metabolic demands and contribute to tissue regeneration and repair.
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Functional Groups
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