A normal cell is characterized as which of the following?

A normal, healthy cell is indeed characterized as mortal and anchorage dependent. Mortal means that these cells have a limited lifespan and will eventually undergo programmed cell death after a certain number of divisions, a phenomenon known as the Hayflick limit. This is in contrast to cancerous cells, which can become immortal due to mutations that allow them to bypass normal cell cycle checkpoints.

Anchorage dependence refers to the requirement of normal cells to attach to a surface or substrate in order to grow and divide. This dependence on attachment plays a crucial role in regulating cell growth and behavior, ensuring that cells grow appropriately and do not proliferate uncontrollably. In contrast, many cancer cells lose this anchorage dependence, allowing them to grow and migrate in an uncontrolled manner.

The other options describe characteristics that are not typical of normal cells. Immortal and free-floating, for instance, is more aligned with cancer cells that evade normal growth regulation. Stationary and dependent on nutrients captures some aspects of normal cells but does not encompass the anchorage requirement. Self-sufficient and independent suggests a lack of regulation similar to cancer cells, which can grow without the usual constraints. Thus, the correct characterization of a normal cell is that it is mortal and reliant on anchorage for its growth