Multiple Choice
Moving ahead with cell division is controlled by the interaction of which of the following?
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16. Cell Division
Control of the Cell Cycle
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Join thousands of students who trust us to help them ace their exams!Watch the first videoMultiple Choice
Which is the primary function of cyclins in the control of the cell cycle?
A
They form the mitotic spindle during cell division.
B
They degrade damaged organelles through autophagy.
C
They activate cyclin-dependent kinases to regulate cell cycle progression.
D
They directly replicate DNA during the S phase.
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the role of cyclins in the cell cycle: Cyclins are regulatory proteins that control the progression of the cell cycle by activating cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs).
Recognize that cyclins do not directly perform tasks like forming the mitotic spindle, degrading organelles, or replicating DNA. Instead, they regulate these processes indirectly by activating CDKs.
Learn how cyclins and CDKs work together: Cyclins bind to CDKs, forming a cyclin-CDK complex. This complex phosphorylates target proteins, which then drive the cell cycle forward through its various phases (G1, S, G2, and M).
Eliminate incorrect options: Forming the mitotic spindle is a function of microtubules and associated proteins, not cyclins. Degrading damaged organelles is a function of autophagy, and DNA replication is carried out by enzymes like DNA polymerase, not cyclins.
Conclude that the primary function of cyclins is to activate cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs), which regulate cell cycle progression by phosphorylating specific target proteins.
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Control of the Cell Cycle practice set
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