A diploid cell in the G₁ phase of its cell cycle has 2n chromosomes and a 2C amount of DNA. Which of the following represents the correct chromosome number and DNA content of this cell immediately after it completes the S phase?

Step-by-step solution

In the G₁ phase, the cell has 2n chromosomes and 2C amount of DNA. During the S phase (synthesis phase) of the cell cycle, DNA replication takes place. This results in the doubling of the DNA content, so the DNA amount increases from 2C to 4C . However, the number of chromosomes does not increase because the newly synthesized sister chromatids remain attached at the centromere. Each chromosome now consists of two chromatids, but it is still counted as a single chromosome. Therefore, the chromosome number remains 2n