A set of cells in the intestinal epithelium divides continually in order to replace dead cells.A microscopic examination of this population of cells would show that most of them
A) have condensed chromatin.
B) are in meiosis.
C) are in mitosis.
D) are in interphase.
E) Both a and b

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Since the intestinal epithelial cells divide continually to replace dead cells, most of them will be in interphase, the phase of the cell cycle where the cell prepares for division by replicating its DNA and organelles. Cells in mitosis or meiosis are in the process of dividing and would not make up the majority of a population of continually dividing cells. Condensed chromatin is indicative of a cell in a condensed state, such as during mitosis or apoptosis, and would not be present in most cells in the intestinal epithelium. Therefore, the best choice is D.

A Set of Cells in the Intestinal Epithelium Divides Continually