Question
Biology Question on cell cycle and cell division
A stage of mitosis is shown in the diagram. Which stage is it and what are its characteristics?
Metaphase - Spindle fibers attached to kinetochores, centromeres split and chromatids separate.
Metaphase - Chromosomes moved to spindle equator, chromosomes made up of two sister chromatids.
Anaphase - Centromeres split and chromatids separate and start moving away.
Late prophase - Chromosomes move to spindle equator.
Metaphase - Chromosomes moved to spindle equator, chromosomes made up of two sister chromatids.
Solution
In metaphase, chromosomes consisting of two sister chromatids get arranged at equator. Discontinuous fibres radiate out from two spindle poles and get connected to the disc shaped structure at the surface of the centromere called kinetochores. These are known as chromosome fibres or tractile fibrils. A kinetochore is a complex protein structure that is analogous to a ring for the microtubule hook; it is the point where microtubules attach themselves to the chromosome.