Are the chromosomes single or double in meiosis?

Answer 1

Before mitosis the chromosome replicates a perfect copy of itself that is attached to itself. After mitosis each of these chromotids has moved to a seperate cell. The chromotid that has moved to the new cell is actually classed as a chromosome. Biologists have made this confusing by the way we are taught about chromosomes as we are shown them when they are in their visible form. They are only visible before mitosis when they bunch up tightly and become more dense and have replicated their DNA resulting in the double strand. The "chromatid" that moves to the new cell is in fact a new chromosome but the visual aid used to teach about chromosomes is the standard image of a double stranded "chromosome". Another key point i have found is that IPMAT (Inter, Meta, Pro, Ana and Telephase) as i was taught is not technically correct. Mitosis doesnt begin until the Prophase, the cell spends a large part of its life in the interphase which happens to be when the chromosome has been replicated in preperation for mitosis and also for other reasons. This is when it becomes double stranded again and apparently stays in the interphase for the majority of the time. A chromosome is also a single strand of DNA, thats something else that is worth remembering. It is tightly wound around proteins to help condense it and be able to fit it all into a cell nucleus, these are called histones and play key roles. Now if i could just figure out why some of the strands in a pair look different to one another when you look at autosomes on wikipaedia i will be happy. Autosomes just refer to chromosomes that aren't the sex determining chromosomes (X or Y)

Answer 2

The chromosomes are double (diploid) at the beginning of meiosis. By the end of meiosis I, the chromosomes are single (haploid).

Answer 3

The daughter cells resulting from meiosis have 1/2 the chromosomes of the parent cells.

Answer 4

they replicate

Answer 5

pretty sure they're single stranded.

Answer 6

YES!