Multiple Choice
In a human somatic cell entering mitosis, how many chromosomes are present just before mitosis begins (at the end of G2, after DNA replication)?
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16. Cell Division
Mitosis
Multiple Choice
In a typical human somatic cell (diploid), how many chromosomes are present in each daughter cell immediately after mitosis (and cytokinesis) are complete?
A
46
B
92
C
23
D
69
Verified step by step guidance1
Recall that a typical human somatic cell is diploid, meaning it contains two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent. The diploid number for humans is 46 chromosomes.
Understand that during mitosis, the cell duplicates its chromosomes so that each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids. This means the cell temporarily has 92 chromatids, but still 46 chromosomes because chromatids are counted as parts of chromosomes.
Mitosis ensures that each daughter cell receives one copy of each chromosome. After mitosis and cytokinesis, the sister chromatids separate and become individual chromosomes in the daughter cells.
Therefore, each daughter cell ends up with the same diploid number of chromosomes as the original cell, which is 46 chromosomes.
Summarize that immediately after mitosis and cytokinesis, each daughter cell contains 46 chromosomes, maintaining the diploid chromosome number.
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