A diploid animal cell with 2n = 16 is undergoing meiosis. How many centromeres and chromatids, respectively, will be observed moving towards each pole during Anaphase I?

Step-by-step solution

During Anaphase I of meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate and move towards opposite poles, but the centromeres do not split. Since the diploid number is 2n = 16 , there are 16 chromosomes in total. During Anaphase I, half of the chromosomes (8 chromosomes) move to each pole. Because the centromeres remain intact, each of these 8 chromosomes still consists of two sister chromatids. Therefore, there are 8 centromeres and 8 2 = 16 chromatids moving towards each pole. Answer: 8 centromeres and 16 chromatids