In a cell with 8 pairs of chromosomes (2n = 16), how many separate chromosomes will be present at metaphase of mitosis?

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BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question describes a cell with 8 pairs of chromosomes, i.e., 2n = 16. 
At metaphase of mitosis, each chromosome has already been replicated and consists of two sister chromatids held together at the centromere. However, in mitosis, chromosomes are still counted as individual chromosomes, not as chromatids. 
Therefore, the cell at metaphase contains 16 separate chromosomes to align on the metaphase plate, even though each chromosome is replicated into two chromatids. 
A common point of confusion is whether to count chromatids or chromosomes; if you counted chromatids, you would get 32 (since 16 chromosomes × 2 chromatids each). 
Another potential pitfall is confusing meiosis with mitosis; in mitosis, the diploid complement is maintained with the same chromosome number through division, whereas meiosis reduces the chromosome number. 
In this case, given 2n = 16, the number of separate chromosomes present at metaphase of mitosis is 16. 
Note: the provided answer options are missing in the data, so no multiple-choice choices to evaluate are available here.

AGRI10051_2025_SM2 Revision Questions Weeks 1-4 UNMARKED

In a cell with 8 pairs of chromosomes (2n = 16), how many separate chromosomes will be present at metaphase of mitosis?

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