Question

During metaphase chromosomes _______
A) Becomes short and thick
B) Get arranged at the equator
C) Duplicate and divide
D) Move to respective poles

Answer 1

Hint: A cell goes through many divisions, DNA replication in order to grow and function. The sequence of events in which the cell undergoes all these processes is called cell cycle.

Complete answer:
There are two basic phases of a cell cycle namely Interphase and M phase. M phase is another name of Mitosis phase.
Let us have a brief introduction of these two phases.
Interphase is a phase between the two consecutive M phases. It is also called the resting phase whereas M phase as the name suggests is the mitosis phase in which the mitosis or cell division takes place. Mitosis is also called Equational division. The M phase goes as follows:
Nuclear division → Karyokinesis → Cytokinesis.
The Mitosis is divided into four stages:
i) Prophase
ii) Metaphase
iii) Anaphase
iv) Telophase
Each stage holds different properties and functions but as the question is asking only for Metaphase, we will study about metaphase and its properties.
Metaphase, which is the second stage of mitosis is characterized by the dissolution of the nuclear envelope. Chromosome condensation is completed and following this, the chromosomes are spread throughout the cytoplasm of the cell. Kinetochores which are the small structures occurring at the centre of centromere are the sites of attachment of spindle fibres. The chromosomes which are made of two chromatids then move to the centre and get aligned at the equator.

Hence , the answer to the above question is option ‘B’ which gets arranged at the equator.
Note: There are few cells which do not divide and enter an inactive stage, that stage is called Quiescent stage. The pattern of alignment of chromosomes at the metaphase is called Metaphase plate.