As each cell in our body prepares for mitosis, its chromosomes start to look different. What are the changes in chromosome appearance that accompany the entry into M phase? Indicate true (T) and false (F) descriptions below. Your answer would be a five-letter string composed of letters T and F only, e.g. TTFFT.
( ) The chromosomes become readily visible by the naked eye.
( ) The chromosomes coil up further to become about 10 times shorter.
( ) Each chromosome is condensed and then replicated to form two sister chromatids.
( ) The typical diameter of a mitotic chromosome arm is about 70 nm.
( ) The two sister chromatids are disentangled from each other by the time chromosome condensation is complete.

Question

As each cell in our body prepares for mitosis, its chromosomes start to look different. What are the changes in chromosome appearance that accompany the entry into M phase? Indicate true (T) and false (F) descriptions below. Your answer would be a five-letter string composed of letters T and F only, e.g. TTFFT.
( )	The chromosomes become readily visible by the naked eye.
( )	The chromosomes coil up further to become about 10 times shorter.
( )	Each chromosome is condensed and then replicated to form two sister chromatids.
( )	The typical diameter of a mitotic chromosome arm is about 70 nm.
( )	The two sister chromatids are disentangled from each other by the time chromosome condensation is complete.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The cells achieve an extra 10-fold compaction ratio of their DNA by condensing the chromatin into mitotic chromosomes that can be seen using a light microscope. This is done after the DNA replication in S phase, and ends in the complete disentanglement of the sister chromatids. A mammalian mitotic chromatid is normally between 0.5 and 1 µm in diameter. A 70-nm-thick chromosome would be only about twice as wide as a 30-nm fiber.

As Each Cell in Our Body Prepares for Mitosis, Its