If a cell was capable of bypassing metaphase and going directly from prometaphase to anaphase, what is the most likely consequence of this?

Question

A.  The resulting daughter cells would not have a nuclear envelope.
B.  The resulting daughter cells would have significantly different quantities of cytoplasmic materials.
C.  The resulting daughter cells would have different numbers of chromosomes.
D.  The resulting daughter cells would be completely normal.

Clarify Question
 · What is the key concept addressed by the question?
· What type of thinking is required?
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?

  Gather Content
  · What do you know about metaphase? How does it relate to the question?

Consider Possibilities  
  · What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?

  Choose Answer
  · Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?

  Reflect on Process
  · Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?

Answer 1

C.  The resulting daughter cells would have different numbers of chromosomes.

Clarify Question
  · What is the key concept addressed by the question?
        o The question asks about the role of metaphase.
· What type of thinking is required?
        o You are being asked to analyze different explanations of what would happen to daughter cells if they skipped metaphase.
· What key words does the question contain and what do they mean?
        o Metaphase – during metaphase the sister chromatids are attached to the mitotic spindle as they are moved to the equator of the cell.

  Gather Content
  · What do you know about metaphase? How does it relate to the question?
        o Metaphase is critical for ensuring that all sister chromatids are properly attached to the mitotic spindle.

Consider Possibilities  
  · What other information is related to the question? Which information is most useful?
        o Metaphase involves the movement of chromosomes to the center of the dividing cell.  It does not affect formation of the nuclear envelope or movement of cytoplasm.

  Choose Answer
  · Given what you now know, what information and/or problem solving approach is most likely to produce the correct answer?
        o If this phase were bypassed that would mean that there was no mechanism to check for proper attachment to the mitotic spindle.  As a result, it is possible that some chromosomes were not properly attached and therefore, some chromosomes may not properly separate and/or segregate.  This would lead to daughter cells with different numbers of chromosomes, which is not a goal of mitosis.

  Reflect on Process
  · Did your problem-solving process lead you to the correct answer? If not, where did the process break down or lead you astray? How can you revise your approach to produce a more desirable result?
        o This question asked you to analyze statements about what would happen to a cell if it skipped metaphase and divided. If you got the correct answer, great job! If you got an incorrect answer, where did the process break down? Did you recall that metaphase is where sister chromatids attach to the mitotic spindle?  Did you understand that if the spindle does not attach properly that chromosomes will not segregate equally between the two daughter cells.  Did you think that metaphase is where the nuclear envelope forms?  Did you confuse metaphase and telophase where the cytoplasm separates into the two daughter cells?