Centrioles are tiny, tubular organelles found in animal cells that play a crucial role in cell division. They form a centrosome, which sends out spindles to separate DNA during division. The existence of centrosomes was discovered in 1888, and they also provide structural support and have their own genetic code.
A centriole is a specialized organelle, also called a cell body, found in the cells of most animals. It is roughly tubular in shape and plays an important role in cell division. These cellular structures are so tiny that their details cannot be seen without the assistance of an electron microscope; during cell division, their activity can be clearly seen under magnification.
There are many organelles, including centrioles, that help a eukaryotic cell function smoothly. A eukaryotic cell is a complex cell with a number of tiny organs that all perform different functions. It also has a cell nucleus and a complex physical structure that distinguishes it from prokaryotic cells, such as those of bacteria. Humans, among other animals, are made up of eukaryotic cells, and these cells divide periodically to renew themselves so that their larger hosts can grow and stay healthy.
In animals that have centrioles, each cell has one pair. Their shape is actually quite alluring and beautiful; they consist of nine microtubule triplets arranged in a pinwheel shape around a central cylinder. The two together form a structure in the cell that is called a centrosome, with one centriole aligned in a perpendicular orientation to the other. This organelle is at the heart of cell division.
When a cell divides, the centrosome replicates and the two move to opposite ends of the cell. Each then sends out spindles, which are supposed to separate the cell’s DNA, differentiating a cell into two copies of itself that can then divide into fresh cells. A mistake during this process can create a mutated cell, which can either die harmlessly or become more malignant, depending on the mutation.
The existence of the centrosome was discovered by Theodor Boveri in 1888 and Boveri also put forward an early theory that cancer was caused by errors during cell division. Though mocked at the time, he was later proven right. Besides playing an important role in cell division, a centriole also helps provide structural support to its parent cell. It would also appear that this organelle has its own unique genetic code that is distinct from the cell’s code; scientists believe that this code allows the centrosome to divide and perform its various functions in the cell.
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