Final answer:
Basal cells within a taste bud are the mature cells that do not contribute to gustation but differentiate into gustatory receptor cells that are essential for the sense of taste.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mature cells within a taste bud that do not play a role in gustation are known as basal cells. These cells are not directly involved in the taste sensation but are rather precursor cells that differentiate into gustatory receptor cells. Gustation, or the sense of taste, is facilitated by specialized cells within taste buds called gustatory receptor cells. These cells detect and transduce chemical stimuli from ingested substances.
These signals are then transmitted to the brain, resulting in the perception of taste. Taste buds are found on the tongue within various types of papillae, and each bud contains both gustatory and basal cells. The gustatory cells have a life cycle of 10 to 14 days and are continually replaced with new cells that originate from the basal cells.