AAMC FL Practice Exam

What type of cells contain a cytoskeleton consisting of microtubules and microfilaments?

1. Prokaryotic cells

2. Eukaryotic cells

3. Both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells

4. None of the above

The correct answer is: Eukaryotic cells

Eukaryotic cells are characterized by their complex internal structures, including a well-defined nucleus and various organelles. One of the significant components of eukaryotic cells is the cytoskeleton, which plays critical roles in maintaining cell shape, providing mechanical support, facilitating intracellular transport, and enabling motility. The cytoskeleton is primarily made up of three types of fibers: microtubules, microfilaments, and intermediate filaments, with microtubules and microfilaments being two key components. Microtubules are cylindrical structures composed of tubulin proteins, and they are involved in various cellular functions such as maintaining the structure of the cell, serving as tracks for the movement of organelles, and separating chromosomes during cell division. Microfilaments, made of actin proteins, are essential for cell movement, shape, and contraction, among other roles. In contrast, prokaryotic cells, such as bacteria and archaea, lack a true cytoskeleton composed of these elements. While they do have protein filaments that serve some structural and organizational roles, they do not possess the same complex cytoskeletal organization found in eukaryotic cells. Therefore, the presence of a cytoskeleton consisting of microt