A meiocyte has 24 chromosomes with a DNA content of 2C at the G₁ phase of its cell cycle. What will be the chromosome number and DNA content respectively at the stage of meiotic prophase I where chromosomes are fully condensed, and at the end of the meiotic division that resembles normal mitosis?

Step-by-step solution

At the G₁ phase, the meiocyte has 24 chromosomes and a DNA content of 2C. During the S phase, DNA replication occurs, doubling the DNA content to 4C, but the chromosome number remains the same (24). The stage of meiotic prophase I where chromosomes are fully condensed is diakinesis. At this stage, the cell has not yet divided, so the chromosome number is still 24 and the DNA content is 4C. The meiotic division that resembles normal mitosis is Meiosis II. At the end of Meiosis II, the homologous chromosomes and sist