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Multiple Choice
How many chromosomes are in a human cell about to start meiosis?
A
69
B
92
C
46
D
23
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that human cells are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. This totals to 46 chromosomes in a typical human somatic cell.
Recognize that meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four haploid cells. However, the question asks about the chromosome number before meiosis begins.
Before meiosis starts, the cell is in the interphase stage, where it has already replicated its DNA. Despite the replication, the chromosome number remains the same, but each chromosome now consists of two sister chromatids.
Therefore, at the start of meiosis, the cell still contains 46 chromosomes, each consisting of two sister chromatids, making it ready to undergo the two rounds of division in meiosis.
Conclude that the correct number of chromosomes in a human cell about to start meiosis is 46, as the replication of DNA does not change the chromosome count, only the chromatid count.