A biologist examines a series of cells and counts 160 cells

A biologist examines a series of cells and counts 160 cells in interphase, 20 cells in prophase, 6 cells in prometaphase, 2 cells in metaphase, 7 cells in anaphase, and 5 cells in telophase. If the complete cell cycle requires 24 hours, what is the average duration (in hours) of the M phase in these cells?

Solution

Stage

Total number of cell counted

Proportion of cell at every stage (number of cells/ total number of cells)

Average duration (in hours ) = (multiply 24 hours by the proportion of cells at that stage)

Interphase

160

0.80

19.2

Prophase

20

0.10

2.4

Prometaphase

6

0.03

0.72

Metaphase

2

0.01

0.24

Anaphase

7

0.035

0.84

Telophase

5

0.025

0.6

Totals

200

1.0

24

The M- phase average duration is mainly assessed by summing up the total hours spent in every stage of mitotic division. In the above given cells, M phase is lasts for 4.8 hours. The metaphase is going to require 0.24 hours 14.4 minutes