Final answer:
The characteristics least associated with bone compared to cartilage are flexibility and elasticity. Bone's high mineralization and rigid structure make it stronger but less flexible than the softer and more pliable cartilage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Characteristics that are least likely associated with bone compared with cartilage include flexibility and elasticity. Bones are much less flexible than cartilage. Bone is the hardest connective tissue, providing protection to internal organs and support to the body. The rigid extracellular matrix of bone is mostly collagen fibers embedded in a mineralized ground substance containing hydroxyapatite, a form of calcium phosphate, leading to its rigidity. In contrast, cartilage is a supportive tissue that does not have as much calcium, making it softer and more pliable than bone. While both tissues have an organic matrix that provides some strength and flexibility, the high degree of mineralization in bone tissue (mineralization) provides it with greater strength and less flexibility than cartilage.