Question

Which of the following is true about cells that are in the stage of the cell cycle known as the G0 phase?

A. Cells can never enter back into the G1 phase
B. Cells in this phase are not actively preparing to undergo cell duplication
C. The only human cells that are ever in the G0 phase are neurons
D. Cells in the G0 phase are dormant (or entirely inactive)

Answer 1

The true statement about cells in the G0 phase is that they are not actively preparing to undergo cell duplication; some cells may temporarily enter this state, while others such as neurons and cardiac muscles can be in it permanently.

Step-by-step explanation:

Cells in the G0 phase are not actively preparing to undergo cell duplication.

The G0 phase represents a state in the cell cycle where cells are not actively preparing for division. This stage is called quiescent, which means the cells are inactive in the sense of cell division, but they may still be metabolically active in their specialized functions. Some cells enter the G0 phase temporarily and can be called back into the cell cycle by external signals and resume their preparation for division by entering the G1 phase.

Other cells, such as mature neurons and cardiac muscle cells, may enter this phase permanently and do not typically re-enter the cell cycle. It is not true that all cells in the G0 phase are dormant or that neurons are the only human cells that enter the G0 phase. Therefore, the statement that cells can never enter back into the G1 phase is incorrect, and the statement that cells in the G0 phase are dormant is overly simplistic.