Final answer:
Nerve cells do not have centrioles because they are lost during the differentiation of nerve cells; mature neurons do not divide, making centrioles unnecessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student inquires about why nerve cells do not have centrioles. Centrioles are associated with the process of cell division, organizing spindle fibers to ensure proper chromosome separation. In nerve cells specifically, they do not undergo typical cell division after reaching maturity. When nerve cells (neurons) mature, they differentiate and lose the ability to divide, thus, they also lose or do not require centrioles for cell division. Therefore, the most accurate answer to the question is option (c): Centrioles are lost during the differentiation of nerve cells.
This process of losing centrioles is aligned with the general observation that mature neurons do not enter the cell cycle or divide, contrasting with other cell types that might continue to replicate throughout an organism's life. Furthermore, while the exact function of centrioles in cell division is not entirely clear, given that cells can still divide without them, and plants, which lack centrioles, are capable of cell division, their absence in mature nerve cells is consistent with the cell's non-dividing state.
In summary, even though centrioles are integral for cell division in animal cells, they are not present in mature nerve cells which do not divide. Hence, when choosing from the given options regarding nerve cells and centrioles, we mention the correct option in our final answer, which is option (c).