Question

This is another picture of actively dividing cells within an onion root. How many of these cells are in metaphase? What does that look like? How many of these cells appear to be in anaphase or telophase? Can you distinguish between the two phases in this preparation?

Answer 1

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In the normal process of mitotic division, chromosomes can be seen as visible and tangled mass in prophase.

Chromosomes in metaphase should be arranged in the metaphasic plate in the middle of the cell.

In anaphase, the centromere connects with the spindle apparatus which cause a pull of the chromatids of each chromosomes to the oppposite poles of the cell.

In telophase, the daughter chromosomes arrive and assemble at each pole

and in cytokinesisis, the cell divides into identical daughter cells.

The above given is the brief and easy explanation about cell division stages.

In the given picture, out of the two large cells lying perpendicular to the plane, top one (large cell just opposite to a red dot/debris), is at metaphase and is the only cell at metaphase in the picture, were we can see the chromosomes are arranged in the middle metapahsic palte.

1 cell is at anaphase, which lies towards the bottom of the picture,were chromatids moves towards opposite poles can be seen, which is said to be the anaphasic stage.

2 cells lies at right side of the picture(middle of cross lying 3 cells) is at telophase, were we can see assemblage of daughter cells at each pole.

From this picture, by keeping in mind those explanation provided at the begining, we can easily distinguish between metaphase and anaphase.