What doesn't the nucleus do? Not only does it contain the genetic material of a cell, it acts as its control centre. In other words, the nucleus functions as the cell's brain.
Its main function is gene expression, replication and regulation. What this means is that the nucleus puts forth every effort to ensure that cellular reproduction goes as smoothly as possible. If you're curious, the overall process involves the nucleus duplicating itself asexually so that its genetic material is perfectly imitated in the newborn cell.
Nuclei also control their cell's independent and collective functions. When it's necessary for the cell to take some form of action, the nucleus' DNA manufactures separate RNA molecules which then disperse through the cell and assemble to perform their assigned task.
For these reasons, the nucleus is key when it comes to cloning. To clone a cell, a scientist has to extract or disconnect the nucleus from its original cell and transplant it into a different one. When this process is completed successfully, this new cell will begin to act in accordance with the nucleus' commands.
So to answer your question, the nucleus is the central part of a cell. It's the boss, the leader, the go-to guy for all cellular functions. It controls the cell in its entirety, and can be transplanted into a new cell to carry out its normal functions. Additionally, the nucleus houses all the genetic information of the cell and controls and regulates cellular reproduction. Thus, they are without question the most important part of a cell.
There's one last thing I want to note here: Not every cell has a nucleus. Red blood cells, for example, don't. They begin with a nucleus, sure, but soon shed it in order to carry more oxygen. The absence of a nucleus is why red blood cells don't last very long and usually burst within four months of their creation. It's actually all very fascinating.
Its main function is gene expression, replication and regulation. What this means is that the nucleus puts forth every effort to ensure that cellular reproduction goes as smoothly as possible. If you're curious, the overall process involves the nucleus duplicating itself asexually so that its genetic material is perfectly imitated in the newborn cell.
Nuclei also control their cell's independent and collective functions. When it's necessary for the cell to take some form of action, the nucleus' DNA manufactures separate RNA molecules which then disperse through the cell and assemble to perform their assigned task.
For these reasons, the nucleus is key when it comes to cloning. To clone a cell, a scientist has to extract or disconnect the nucleus from its original cell and transplant it into a different one. When this process is completed successfully, this new cell will begin to act in accordance with the nucleus' commands.
So to answer your question, the nucleus is the central part of a cell. It's the boss, the leader, the go-to guy for all cellular functions. It controls the cell in its entirety, and can be transplanted into a new cell to carry out its normal functions. Additionally, the nucleus houses all the genetic information of the cell and controls and regulates cellular reproduction. Thus, they are without question the most important part of a cell.
There's one last thing I want to note here: Not every cell has a nucleus. Red blood cells, for example, don't. They begin with a nucleus, sure, but soon shed it in order to carry more oxygen. The absence of a nucleus is why red blood cells don't last very long and usually burst within four months of their creation. It's actually all very fascinating.
