Final answer:
The centrosome, containing two perpendicular centrioles, is crucial for organizing microtubules during cell division. It replicates before division, aiding in chromosome separation, though its exact role remains partially unclear due to the ability of cells without centrosomes to divide.
Step-by-step explanation:
The centrosome is a crucial cellular organelle in animal cells, particularly during cell division. It serves as the primary microtubule-organizing center (MTOC), comprising two centrioles positioned perpendicularly to each other. Each centriole is a cylinder composed of nine triplets of microtubules held together by nontubulin proteins. The centrosome replicates itself before a cell divides, with the centrioles playing a significant role in facilitating the movement of duplicated chromosomes to opposite ends of the cell, forming what is known as the mitotic spindle. However, the exact role of centrioles in cell division is not fully understood, as cells without centrosomes can still undergo division, and plant cells, which naturally lack centrosomes, are also capable of cell division.