Which difference in chromosome alignment correctly distinguishes mitotic metaphase from meiotic metaphase I?
- A
Both align identical structures.
- Bcheck_circle
Mitosis aligns individual replicated chromosomes; meiosis I aligns homologous chromosome pairs (tetrads).
- C
Mitosis aligns tetrads; meiosis I aligns single chromosomes.
- D
Mitosis lacks centromere attachment to spindle.
Explanation
In mitotic metaphase, each replicated chromosome aligns singly. In metaphase I, homologous pairs synapse as tetrads and align together, enabling later separation of homologs.