Question Details

Flagella, centrioles, cilia and basal bodies possess evident similar structural elements and arrangements. This can lead to this probable hypothesis

Options

A

Loss of basal bodies should lead to loss of all cilia, flagella, and centrioles

B

Disruption of one of these types of the structure should necessarily disrupt each of the others as well

C

Motor proteins such as dynein must have evolved before any of these four kinds of structure

D

Natural selection for motility must select for microtubular arrays in circular patterns

Correct Answer :

Natural selection for motility must select for microtubular arrays in circular patterns

Solution :

The correct option is: "Natural selection for motility must select for microtubular arrays in circular patterns"

Understanding the Structural Elements:
Flagella, cilia, centrioles, and basal bodies are all eukaryotic cellular structures characterized by highly organized arrangements of microtubules.
Specifically, cilia and flagella typically exhibit a "9 + 2" microtubule arrangement (nine outer doublets surrounding a central pair), whereas centrioles and basal bodies feature a "9 + 0" arrangement (nine outer triplets with no central microtubules). In both cases, the microtubular arrays are arranged in a circular cylindrical pattern.

Analyzing the Hypothesis:
Because these different structures share a common, highly conserved circular arrangement of microtubules despite serving varied roles (such as cell motility in cilia/flagella and cell division spindle organization in centrioles), it points to an evolutionary advantage of this specific geometry.
Natural selection favors structures that optimize function. For cellular motility and mechanical stability, a circular arrangement of microtubular arrays provides the uniform distribution of mechanical forces, bending resistance, and coordination required for movement.
Therefore, the evident structural similarity leads to the probable hypothesis that natural selection for motility selectively favors and stabilizes microtubular arrays organized in circular patterns.

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