The cells of the quiescent centre are characterised by

Options

A. `G_1` phase
B. `G_2` phase
C. `G_0` phase
D. S-phase

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Cell Division:**
- Cells in the body regularly divide to replace old and damaged cells. This is a normal part of growth and repair in tissues.

2. **Identifying Quiescent Cells:**
- Some cells, such as heart cells, divide only once and do not undergo further division. These cells enter a state where they are not actively dividing, known as the G0 phase.

3. **Phases of the Cell Cycle:**
- The cell cycle consists of several phases:
- **G1 Phase:** The cell grows and prepares for DNA replication.
- **S Phase:** DNA is replicated, resulting in doubled chromosomes.
- **G2 Phase:** The cell checks the duplicated chromosomes and prepares for mitosis.
- The G0 phase is a resting state where cells are metabolically active but not dividing.

4. **Characteristics of Quiescent Cells:**
- Cells in the quiescent center (G0 phase) have specific characteristics:
- They do not actively divide.
- Their cytoplasm is typically light in color.
- The nuclei of these cells are small in size.

5. **Conclusion:**
- Based on the above understanding, the cells of the quiescent center are characterized by being in the G0 phase. Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option C: G0 phase.

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