Which term describes the phase of mitosis when chromosomes condense and become visible?

• A. Prophase
• B. Meiosis
• C. Fungi
• D. Parturition

Answer: (A)

Prophase is the phase of mitosis when chromosomes condense and become visible. At this stage, the long, thread-like chromatin fibers coil tightly into distinct, condensed chromosomes that you can see with a light microscope. The nucleus begins to break down as the nuclear envelope dissolves and the nucleolus disappears, while the spindle apparatus starts to form outside the nucleus to organize chromosome movement. This condensation is what allows the chromosomes to be accurately separated later in mitosis. The other terms don’t describe this mitotic stage: meiosis refers to a different type of cell division that reduces chromosome number, fungi is a kingdom, and parturition is birth.