Telophase: Chromosome Decondensation — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptAt the beginning of the final stage of karyokinesis, i.e., telophase, the chromosomes that have reached their respective poles decondense and lose their individuality. The individual chromosomes can no longer be seen and each set of chromatin material tends to collect at each of the two poles. This is the stage which shows the following key events:
Which of the following statements regarding the characteristics of chromosomes during different phases of mitosis are NOT correct? S1: Chromosome condensation begins during prophase and reaches its maximum in anaphase, making anaphase ideal for morphological studies. S2: In metaphase, chromosomes are aligned at the metaphase plate, each composed of two sister chromatids held by a centromere. S3: The loss of chromosome individuality and their decondensation are characteristic events of telophase, accompanied by the reappearance of the nuclear envelope. S4: During anaphase, sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles, becoming daughter chromosomes, with their arms leading the movement. S5: Kinetochores are small disc-shaped structures at the surface of the centromeres that serve as sites of attachment for spindle fibres.
View solution & NCERT explanation
Correct answer: A — S1 and S4
The core concept tested is the understanding of chromosome behaviour and morphological changes across different mitotic phases. S1: Incorrect. Chromosome condensation begins during prophase, but it reaches its maximum during metaphase, not anaphase. Metaphase is the stage where chromosomes are most easily studied for their morphology. S2: Correct. In metaphase, chromosomes align at the equatorial plate, and each metaphase chromosome consists of two sister chromatids joined at the centromere. S3: Correct. During telophase, chromosomes decondense, lose their individuality, and nuclear envelopes reform around the chromosome clusters. S4: Incorrect. In anaphase, sister chromatids separate and become daughter chromosomes, moving to opposite poles. However, the centromere of each chromosome remains directed towards the pole (leading edge), with the arms trailing behind. S5: Correct. Kinetochores are indeed disc-shaped structures at the centromere surface that act as attachment sites for spindle fibres. Therefore, S1 and S4 are the statements that are NOT correct.
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