Which phase was the least represented (fewest number of cells) in the Mitosis activity?
A. Interphase
B. Metaphase
C. Telophase
D. Anaphase
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct answer is A. Interphase.
In the context of a Mitosis activity or observation, Interphase typically represents the longest phase in the cell cycle, but it is not always directly visible in preparations of cells under a microscope. Mitosis itself involves the stages where the actual division of the cell nucleus occurs, and these stages (Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase) are what are usually counted and analyzed.
Interphase, although it takes up a significant portion of the cell cycle, is not part of mitosis itself. It includes the G1, S, and G2 phases, during which the cell grows, replicates its DNA, and prepares for division. Because Interphase involves cells that are not visibly dividing, it is often represented by fewer cells in microscopy slides, which focus more on the dynamic process of mitosis.
Mitosis is the division of a single eukaryotic cell into two genetically identical daughter cells. It is visually distinct during the stages of Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase, which are all relatively short in duration. These phases are where the action of chromosome alignment, separation, and the formation of new nuclei occur, making them more easily identifiable in a typical observation of dividing cells.
In contrast, Interphase cells appear as normal, non-dividing cells that are not as easily identifiable in a microscope. This lack of distinct features in Interphase accounts for its relatively smaller representation when studying mitosis under a microscope.