8.1.2 Mitosis: An Overview

A cell containing 12 replicated chromosomes at the beginning of mitosis will have how many chromosomes after the completion of mitosis?

12 - After mitosis, the resulting cells will have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Mitosis is a process that results in two cells that are identical to the parent cell. Even though each chromosome is replicated before mitosis, this does not mean that there are twice as many chromosomes. Each replicated chromosome is still one distinct chromosome, it simply has a copy of itself attached as a sister chromatid.

A replicated chromosome has how many chromatids?

2 - The "chromatids" are the two components of the chromosome, joined by the centromere

Structures that play a role in chromosome movements during cell division are called

centrosomes -Centrosomes are involved in the formation of the mitotic spindle that forms during mitosis. The assembly of spindle microtubules begins within the centrosome. Spindle microtubules function in chromosome movement by attaching to the centromere of chromosomes and then shortening, pulling the chromosome to the metaphase plate and separating the sister chromatids of a chromosome.

True or False? An acrocentric chromosome has its centromere on the end of the chromosome.

False - This statement is not true. A telocentric chromosome has its centromere on the end of the chromosome, while an acrocentric chromosome has its centromere located somewhere between the midpoint and the end. A metacentric chromosome has its centromere located in the middle of the chromosome.

Spindle fibers attach to the ______________ of a chromosome

centromere -Spindle fibers attach to the centromere of a chromosome. The centromere of a chromosome is the location where two sister chromatids are attached to each other.

Mitosis is best described as a

division of the nucleus - Mitosis is a division of the nucleus, in which two daughter nulei are formed that are identical to that of the parent nucleus