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When undifferentiated mammary gland epithelium cells that had been grown on a bare culture dish are cultured in the presence of certain extracellular molecules (e.g., laminin), what, if anything happens to them?

a) There is no change in these cells.
b) They regain their differentiated appearance.
c) They differentiate into muscle and bone cells.
d) They become organized into milkproducing, glandlike structures.

User Fast Tooth
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Final answer:

Mammary gland epithelium cells cultured with extracellular molecules such as laminin differentiate and d. organize into gland-like structures capable of producing milk.

Step-by-step explanation:

When undifferentiated mammary gland epithelium cells, which have been grown on a bare culture dish, are cultured in the presence of certain extracellular molecules such as laminin, they become organized into milk-producing, gland-like structures. This process occurs because extracellular molecules like laminin are key components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that act as a scaffold for cell attachment, and provide signals that promote cell differentiation and tissue formation. The presence of such molecules allows cells to form appropriate cell junctions and induce gene expression relevant to their mature state, guiding cells like mammary epithelial cells to regain their differentiated appearance and organize into structures capable of milk production.

When undifferentiated mammary gland epithelium cells that had been grown on a bare culture dish are cultured in the presence of certain extracellular molecules (e.g., laminin), they d) become organized into milk-producing, glandlike structures.

User Zeycus
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