Textbook Question
Complete the following table to compare mitosis and meiosis.
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Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 Biology: The Study of Scientific Life19
- Ch. 2 The Chemical Basis of Life17
- Ch. 3 The Molecules of Cells21
- Ch. 4 A Tour of the Cell20
- Ch. 5 The Working Cell17
- Ch. 6 How Cells Harvest Chemical Energy18
- Ch. 7 Photosynthesis: Using Light to Make Food15
- Ch. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and Inheritance22
- Ch. 9 Patterns of Inheritance17
- Ch. 10 Molecular Biology of the Gene13
- Ch. 11 How Genes Are Controlled13
- Ch. 12 DNA Technology and Genomics23
- Ch. 13 How Populations Evolve17
- Ch. 14 The Origin of Species19
- Ch. 15 Tracing Evolutionary History18
- Ch. 16 Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists16
- Ch. 17 The Evolution of Plant and Fungal Diversity15
- Ch. 18 The Evolution of Invertebrate Diversity13
- Ch. 19 The Evolution of Vertebrate Diversity18
- Ch. 20 Unifying Concepts of Animal Structure and Function11
- Ch. 21 Nutrition and Digestion16
- Ch. 22 Gas Exchange16
- Ch. 23 Circulation17
- Ch. 24 The Immune System16
- Ch. 25 Control of Body Temperature and Water Balance20
- Ch. 26 Hormones and the Endocrine System10
- Ch. 27 Reproduction and Embryonic Development12
- Ch. 28 Nervous Systems10
- Ch. 29 The Senses12
- Ch. 30 How Animals Move19
- Ch. 31 Plant Structure, Growth, and Reproduction9
- Ch. 32 Plant Nutrition and Transport12
- Ch. 33 Control Systems in Plants15
- Ch. 34 The Biosphere: An Introduction to Earth's Diverse Environments15
- Ch. 35 Behavioral Adaptations to the Environment12
- Ch. 36 Population Ecology15
- Ch. 37 Communities and Ecosystems14
- Ch. 38 Conservation Biology14
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan10th EditionCampbell Biology: Concepts & ConnectionsISBN: 9780136538783Not the one you use?Change textbook
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Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and InheritanceProblem 4
Taylor, Simon, Dickey, Hogan 10th EditionCh. 8 The Cellular Basis of Reproduction and InheritanceProblem 4Chapter 8, Problem 4
It is difficult to observe individual chromosomes during interphase because
a. The DNA has not been replicated yet
b. They are in the form of long, thin strands
c. They leave the nucleus and are dispersed to other parts of the cell
d. Homologous chromosomes do not pair up until division starts
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the context of the question: Interphase is a stage in the cell cycle where the cell prepares for division. During this phase, the DNA is actively being used for transcription and replication, and the chromosomes are not condensed into visible structures.
Recall the structure of chromosomes during interphase: Chromosomes exist as chromatin, which is a complex of DNA and proteins. This chromatin is in a relaxed, uncondensed state, making it difficult to observe individual chromosomes under a microscope.
Eliminate incorrect options: a) The DNA has already been replicated by the end of interphase, so this is not the reason. c) Chromosomes do not leave the nucleus; they remain within it. d) Homologous chromosomes pairing occurs during meiosis, not interphase.
Focus on the correct explanation: During interphase, chromosomes are in the form of long, thin strands of chromatin, which are not tightly packed. This uncondensed state allows for transcription and replication but makes them difficult to distinguish individually.
Conclude that the correct answer is related to the physical state of chromosomes during interphase, which is best described by option b.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Interphase
Interphase is the phase of the cell cycle where the cell prepares for division. It consists of three stages: G1 (cell growth), S (DNA synthesis), and G2 (preparation for mitosis). During interphase, chromosomes are not yet condensed, making them difficult to observe under a microscope.
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08:05
Interphase
Chromatin Structure
Chromatin is the complex of DNA and proteins found in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. During interphase, chromatin exists in a less condensed form, allowing for gene expression and DNA replication. This elongated structure makes individual chromosomes challenging to distinguish.
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03:56Eukaryotic Chromatin Modifications
Chromosome Replication
Chromosome replication occurs during the S phase of interphase, where each chromosome is duplicated to ensure that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. However, prior to this replication, chromosomes are not yet visible as distinct entities, contributing to the difficulty in observing them.
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08:09Homologous Chromosomes
Related Practice
Textbook Question
If an intestinal cell in a grasshopper contains 24 chromosomes, then a grasshopper sperm cell contains ___________ chromosomes.
a. 6
b. 12
c. 24
d. 48
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Textbook Question
Which of the following is not a function of mitosis in humans?
a. Repair of wounds
b. Growth
c. Production of gametes from diploid cells
d. Replacement of lost or damaged cells
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Textbook Question
A fruit fly somatic cell contains 8 chromosomes. This means that ___________ different combinations of chromosomes are possible in its gametes.
a. 8
b. 16
c. 32
d. 64
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Textbook Question
If a fragment of a chromosome breaks off and then reattaches to the original chromosome but in the reverse direction, the resulting chromosomal abnormality is called
a. A deletion
b. An inversion
c. A translocation
d. A non-disjunction
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Textbook Question
Which of the following phases of mitosis is essentially the opposite of prophase in terms of changes within the nucleus?
a. Telophase
b. Metaphase
c. Interphase
d. Anaphase
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