Which one of the following never occurs during mitotic cell division?
- Spindle fibres attach to kinetochores of chromosomes
- Movement of centrioles towards opposite poles
- Pairing of homologous chromosomes
- Coiling and condensation of the chromatids
Answer
(3) Pairing of homologous chromosomes
Solution
In mitosis: chromatin condenses and coils (prophase), centrioles move towards opposite poles (prophase), and spindle fibres attach to kinetochores (metaphase).
Pairing of homologous chromosomes (synapsis) occurs only in zygotene of prophase I of meiosis.
∴ It never occurs during mitosis.
Answer: (3)