If a parent cell has 18 chromosomes prior to mitosis, how many chromosomes will the daughter cells have ?

Options

A. Any number between nine and thirty-six
B. Nine
C. Eighteen
D. Thirty-six

Answer

To solve the question of how many chromosomes the daughter cells will have if a parent cell has 18 chromosomes prior to mitosis, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understand the Process of Mitosis**: Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell. It is often referred to as an equational division because the chromosome number remains the same.

2. **Identify the Chromosome Number in the Parent Cell**: According to the question, the parent cell has 18 chromosomes.

3. **Recognize the Duplication of Chromosomes**: Before mitosis begins, during the S phase of the cell cycle, each chromosome is replicated. This means that the total number of chromatids is doubled, but the number of chromosomes remains the same until they are separated during mitosis.

4. **Understand Chromosome Separation**: During the anaphase of mitosis, the duplicated chromosomes (sister chromatids) are pulled apart to opposite poles of the cell. However, each daughter cell will still end up with the same number of chromosomes as the original parent cell.

5. **Conclude the Chromosome Number in Daughter Cells**: Since the parent cell has 18 chromosomes and mitosis results in the same number of chromosomes in the daughter cells, each daughter cell will also have 18 chromosomes.

### Final Answer:
The daughter cells will have **18 chromosomes**.