Outline7 marksChallenge
A student observed a stained squash preparation of an onion (Allium cepa) root tip under a light microscope. They counted the number of cells in each stage of mitosis in several fields of view. The results are shown in the table below.
| Stage of mitosis | Number of cells counted |
|---|---|
| Prophase | 52 |
| Metaphase | 18 |
| Anaphase | 9 |
| Telophase | 13 |
Outline the behaviour of chromosomes, the nuclear envelope, and the spindle during each stage of mitosis. Use the data to deduce which stage occupies the largest proportion of the cell cycle and explain your reasoning.