The football-shaped structure consisting of thin fibers in a dividing cell is called the spindle.

Here's why:

* Spindle Fibers: These are made of microtubules, which are protein filaments that form a structure resembling a football.

* Function: The spindle fibers are responsible for separating the chromosomes during cell division (mitosis and meiosis). They attach to the chromosomes and pull them apart to ensure that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes.

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