Question

A material which arrests cell division is obtained from:

• A. Dalbergia
• B. Chrysanthemum
• C. Crocus
• D. Colchicine

Hint:

Colchicine is a chemical that is obtained from the corms of a plant called Colchicum.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

The correct answer is option (D): Colchicine 
Colchicine is a chemical that is obtained from the corms of a plant called Colchicum. It can prevent the formation of a structure called a spindle during nuclear division by stopping the formation of microtubules. This can cause somatic doubling, which means that the number of chromosomes in a cell can double.

Answer 2

Colchicine is a plant-derived alkaloid that is obtained from the bulb of the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale). It is known to have a potent inhibitory effect on cell division, as it disrupts the formation of microtubules, which are the structural components of the mitotic spindle required for cell division.

• Colchicine has been used in both medicine and biology to study the process of cell division.
• It has been used to treat conditions such as gout, pericarditis, and familial Mediterranean fever.
•  It is also used in plant breeding to create new varieties by doubling the number of chromosomes in a plant, a process known as polyploidy.

Inhibition of cell division is crucial in many biological and medical applications. For example, colchicine is used in cancer chemotherapy to prevent the rapid division of cancer cells, and it can be used to reduce inflammation by reducing the proliferation of white blood cells.

So, the correct option is D - A material which arrests cell division is obtained from Colchicum.