Nodal cilia, found in the embryonic 'node', are unique because they:
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Correct answer: Lack a central pair but are still motile
Nodal cilia have a 9+0 arrangement but possess dynein arms that allow them to perform a rotary motion. This motion creates a leftward flow of fluid in the embryo, which is critical for establishing the left-right asymmetry of internal organs.
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More Cilia questions
- What is the characteristic microtubule arrangement in the axoneme of a motile cilium?
- Which of the following proteins serves as the molecular motor that generates the sliding force between microtubule doublets in cilia?
- The basal body, which anchors the cilium to the apical cytoplasm, has a microtubule arrangement similar to which other organelle?
- Which of the following describes the 'effective stroke' of a motile cilium?
- Primary cilia (non-motile cilia) differ from motile cilia in that they typically:
- In which of the following locations would you expect to find a high concentration of motile cilia?