Caenorhabditis Elegans Is a Nematode with an Adult Body Length

Caenorhabditis elegans is a nematode with an adult body length of approximately 1 mm. It is a free-living organism that lives in temperate soil environments. It has played a major role as a model organism for research into molecular and developmental biology. This nematode lives for about 2-3 weeks and passes through four juvenile stages before reaching sexual maturity. It has six chromosomes and a transparent body that facilitates the study of cell differentiation and development. C. elegans has been used extensively in the study of aging. In these studies, scientists have discovered a gene called daf-2, which plays a significant role in controlling the aging process and longevity. In fertile nematodes where there is a mutation in the daf-2 gene, animals lived for almost twice as long as animals with the normal gene. The daf-2 gene produces molecules that play an important role in cell signaling pathways associated with growth and aging of individual cells. Reducing the activity of these molecules extends the life span of the whole animal. If a cell of C. elegans is preparing for division but fails the G₂ checkpoint, which of the following is likely to occur?

A) It will enter the mitotic phase.
B) It will undergo cytokinesis.
C) It will undergo apoptosis.
D) DNA replication will occur.