If a cell has 8 duplicated (double stranded) chromosomes during metaphase of mitosis, how many chromosomes would the cell have at the end of anaphase?
To determine the number of chromosomes a cell would have at the end of anaphase, we need to understand the process of mitosis and how chromosomes are distributed.
During the metaphase stage of mitosis, the chromosomes align along the center of the cell, and each chromosome consists of two identical sister chromatids, making it "double stranded." In this case, if the cell has 8 duplicated chromosomes during metaphase, this means there are 8 sets of sister chromatids (a total of 16 chromatids).
During anaphase, the sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite ends of the cell. This separation results in the formation of two identical daughter cells. Each daughter cell will receive an equal number of chromosomes.
In this scenario, since the cell has 8 sets of sister chromatids (16 chromatids) during metaphase, at the end of anaphase, each daughter cell will receive half of the chromatids. Therefore, each daughter cell will have 8 chromatids, which corresponds to 8 chromosomes (assuming there is no further duplication or reduction happening).
So, at the end of anaphase, each daughter cell would have 8 chromosomes.