Given below are two statements: one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Disruption of the mitotic spindle apparatus immediately after metaphase results in a cell with double the normal number of chromosomes. Reason (R): The centromeres split and sister chromatids separate, but they fail to move to opposite poles due to the absence of spindle fibers. In the light of the

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Assertion (A) is true. Disrupting the spindle apparatus after metaphase prevents the segregation of chromatids into two daughter cells, trapping all chromosomes in one cell and effectively doubling the chromosome number (inducing polyploidy). Reason (R) is also true and correctly explains the Assertion. The splitting of centromeres and separation of sister chromatids is a biochemical event that occurs at the onset of anaphase. This splitting can occur even if spindle fibers are disrupted. However, without the spind