If a dish of cells is treated with a centriole inhibitor, what process will they be unable to perform?

The correct choice focuses on the process of cell division, specifically mitosis, which requires the presence and functioning of centrioles. Centrioles play a crucial role in organizing the mitotic spindle, which is essential for the proper separation of chromosomes into daughter cells during cell division. Without adequate centrioles due to the inhibitor, the cells would struggle to align and segregate the chromosomes effectively, ultimately halting the process of division.

While cells have the capability to metabolize nutrients, produce proteins, and engage in cellular respiration independently of centrioles, their inability to divide due to the treatment directly impacts their ability to replicate and grow. Thus, the centriole inhibitor specifically disrupts the process that depends on these organelles, pointing to the inability to undergo cell division as the definitive consequence of such treatment.