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Question #46757
The Question
Colchicine is a potent mitotic poison frequently utilized in agricultural biotechnology to induce artificial polyploidy in meristematic tissues. Which of the following accurately describes its precise molecular mechanism and the subsequent chromosomal consequence?
Options
- A.
It stabilizes microtubules by preventing their depolymerization, arresting the cell in anaphase and inducing c-mitosis.
- B.
It binds to tubulin dimers to inhibit microtubule polymerization, causing the failure of sister chromatid separation and resulting in polyploidy.
- C.
It inhibits the Anaphase Promoting Complex (APC), preventing the cleavage of centromeric cohesin and leading to global aneuploidy.
- D.
It disrupts the formation of actin microfilaments, preventing the formation of the cell plate during cytokinesis and creating a multinucleated syncytium.
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Correct Answer
Step-by-Step Solution
Explanation
How the Examiner Thinks
Regulatory_Failure
Understand how NOT, EXCEPT, and logical constraints are used to manipulate exam results.
Concepts Behind This Question
Microtubule Dynamic Instability|Meiotic Reductional Division|Meristematic Totipotency
Why This Question Is Tricky
Common Mistakes
Conceptual Pivot: The student must distinguish between microtubule polymerization inhibitors (Colchicine) and depolymerization inhibitors (Taxol).
Furthermore, they must recognize the systemic whole-genome effect of complete spindle failure: it causes polyploidy (an increase in entire sets of chromosomes) rather than aneuploidy (the gain or loss of individual chromosomes due to isolated non-disjunction events).
Quick Facts About This Question
Question Information
| Subject | Biology |
| Chapter | Cell – The Unit of Life - Class 11 |
| Concept | Microtubule Dynamic Instability |
| Difficulty | 8 |
| Cognitive Load | 5 |
| Target Solve Time | 120 sec |
| Access | Free |