Multiple Choice
In a typical human somatic cell (2n = 46), how many chromosomes does each daughter cell have immediately after mitosis and cytokinesis?
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16. Cell Division
Mitosis
Multiple Choice
A diploid somatic cell has 8 chromosomes (2n = 8) before DNA replication. After mitosis and cytokinesis are complete, how many chromosomes will each daughter cell have?
A
8 chromosomes
B
16 chromosomes
C
32 chromosomes
D
4 chromosomes
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the meaning of 'diploid' and the notation 2n = 8: this means the cell has 8 chromosomes arranged in pairs before DNA replication.
Recall that during the S phase of the cell cycle, DNA replication occurs, doubling the amount of DNA but not the number of chromosomes; each chromosome now consists of two sister chromatids.
Recognize that mitosis separates sister chromatids into two new nuclei, and cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm, resulting in two daughter cells.
Since sister chromatids separate during mitosis, each daughter cell receives one chromatid from each chromosome pair, restoring the chromosome number to the original diploid number.
Therefore, after mitosis and cytokinesis, each daughter cell will have the same number of chromosomes as the original cell, which is 8 chromosomes.
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