Which statement about mitosis and cytokinesis is TRUE?
A. At the end of mitosis, there are two daughter cells with a normal complement of diploid genetic material.
B. At the end of cytokinesis, there are two daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. C. At the end of cytokinesis, there are two daughter cells with a normal complement of diploid genetic material. D. At the end of mitosis, the DNA is replicated but has not yet been divided into two daughter cells. E. At the end of mitosis, there are two daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
The correct answer is C. At the end of cytokinesis, there are two daughter cells with a normal complement of diploid genetic material.
Explanation
Mitosis is the process of nuclear division that results in the distribution of duplicated chromosomes into two daughter nuclei. It consists of several stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. During these stages, the replicated chromosomes align, separate, and are ultimately distributed into two nuclei.
- Mitosis: At the end of mitosis, the cell has two nuclei, each containing a complete set of chromosomes identical to the parent cell. For diploid organisms (like humans), this means each nucleus has two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, maintaining the diploid number.
- Cytokinesis: Following mitosis, cytokinesis occurs. This is the process where the cytoplasm of a parent cell is divided into two daughter cells. In animal cells, this is achieved through a cleavage furrow that constricts the cell membrane, while in plant cells, a cell plate forms to separate the two new cells.
- Chromosome Number: The statement in option C correctly states that after cytokinesis, there are two daughter cells, each with a normal complement of diploid genetic material. This means both cells have the same number of chromosomes as the original parent cell.
In contrast, the other options present incorrect information:
- A is misleading because it doesn’t specify that the two daughter cells are formed only after cytokinesis.
- B and E incorrectly suggest that the daughter cells have half the number of chromosomes, which would apply to meiosis, not mitosis.
- D is partially true since DNA is replicated during interphase before mitosis, but it fails to clarify that mitosis is only one part of the entire cell division process.
In summary, option C accurately describes the outcome of the entire process, confirming that both daughter cells maintain the diploid genetic material characteristic of the original cell.