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Chapter 13: Problem 4

The individual chromosomes become visible with a light microscope during which stage of mitosis? a. prophase b. prometaphase c. metaphase d. anaphase

Short Answer

Expert verified
Answer: b. prometaphase

Step by step solution

01

Overview of mitosis stages

To answer the question, let's briefly go over each stage of mitosis. This will help with understanding when chromosomes become visible with a light microscope.
02

Prophase

During prophase, chromosomes start to condense, becoming shorter and thicker. The nuclear envelope starts to disintegrate, and the nucleolus disappears. The spindle fibers, which are responsible for aligning and separating the chromosomes, begin to form.
03

Prometaphase

At this stage, the nuclear envelope completely disintegrates, allowing spindle fibers to interact with the chromosomes. The chromosomes condense further and become fully visible under a light microscope. Each chromosome has two sister chromatids joined at the centromere, and the spindle fibers attach to these centromeres via kinetochore proteins.
04

Metaphase

Metaphase is marked by the alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase plate (equator) of the cell. The fully condensed chromosomes are still visible during this stage, and the spindle fibers exert equal and opposite forces at each centromere, mimicking a tug-of-war between sister chromatids.
05

Anaphase

During anaphase, sister chromatids separate and are pulled towards opposite poles of the cell by the spindle fibers. The cell begins to elongate, and the chromosomes start to move further away from the metaphase plate.
06

Conclusion

The individual chromosomes become fully visible under a light microscope during the prometaphase. During this stage, chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope disintegrates, allowing spindle fibers to interact. Therefore, the correct answer is: b. prometaphase

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Explain how the random alignment of homologous chromosomes during metaphase I contributes to variation in gametes produced by meiosis.

Chromosomes are duplicated during what portion of the cell cycle? a. \(\mathrm{G}_{1}\) phase b. S phase c. prophase d. prometaphase

Which of the following is the correct order of events in mitosis? a. Sister chromatids line up at the metaphase plate. The kinetochore becomes attached to the mitotic spindle. The nucleus re-forms and the cell divides. The sister chromatids separate. b. The kinetochore becomes attached to the mitotic spindle. The sister chromatids separate. Sister chromatids line up at the metaphase plate. The nucleus re-forms and the cell divides. c. The kinetochore becomes attached to metaphase plate. Sister chromatids line up at the metaphase plate. The kinetochore breaks down and the sister chromatids separate. The nucleus re-forms and the cell divides. d. The kinetochore becomes attached to the mitotic spindle. Sister chromatids line up at the metaphase plate. The kinetochore breaks apart and the sister chromatids separate. The nucleus re-forms and the cell divides.

An organism's traits are determined by the specific combination of inherited \(-------\) ' a. cells b. genes c. proteins d. chromatids

A diploid cell has \(_{--------}\) the number of chromosomes as a haploid cell. a. one-fourth b. one-half c. twice d. four times
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