A cell with chromosomes undergoes meiosis. How many bivalents and how many total chromatids are present in a cell at Metaphase I?
Answer and explanation
Correct answer: D. 10 bivalents and 40 chromatids
- Step 1: A bivalent (or tetrad) consists of one pair of synapsed homologous chromosomes.
- Step 2: If , there are homologous pairs, meaning the cell forms exactly bivalents.
- Step 3: Each chromosome consists of two replicated sister chromatids, so each bivalent possesses chromatids. Therefore, .
Answer
10 bivalents and 40 chromatids.
Why not the others: 20 bivalents incorrectly assumes every chromosome pairs with itself; 10 bivalents and 20 chromatids forgets that chromosomes have replicated into pairs of sister chromatids; 5 bivalents divides by 4.
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