Cilia/Centrioles

Cilia have multiple roles in eukaryotic cells. In multi-ciliated cells, they are involved in transport - moving mucus and extracellular nutrients along your air ways or digestive tract. The primary cilia is important in cell signaling, playing a role in the hedgehog pathway, for instance. The centrioles sit at the base of the cilia, and play a crucial role in its development and function. Defects in cilia cause a number of diseases called ciliopathies, which can cause renal, retinal, sinus, or developmental problems. Thus understanding the structure and formation of the cilia is important for better understanding and treating these diseases.