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- Thread starter fa21212
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Hi @fa21212 -
The key point here is that the question asks about the length of DNA immediately before condensation. Condensation happens at the start of mitosis, but DNA replication happens still earlier, in the S phase. Therefore, at the point in time that the question asks about, the cell will have double the normal amount of DNA, although it is still conventionally considered diploid. Your reasoning is absolutely right for cells in G1 or for cells that have ceased to go through the cell cycle, but this question is asking about a very specific time in the cell duplication process.
Hope this helps clarify things!
The key point here is that the question asks about the length of DNA immediately before condensation. Condensation happens at the start of mitosis, but DNA replication happens still earlier, in the S phase. Therefore, at the point in time that the question asks about, the cell will have double the normal amount of DNA, although it is still conventionally considered diploid. Your reasoning is absolutely right for cells in G1 or for cells that have ceased to go through the cell cycle, but this question is asking about a very specific time in the cell duplication process.
Hope this helps clarify things!
I'm still confused as to how you would calculate the length that the question is asking for? Also, just to clarify, so you are saying that because the DNA has replicated, there are in fact 6 billion nucleotides as the passage says? Thanks!