A cell in prophase II of meiosis contains 12 chromosomes. How many chromosomes would be present in the same organism if it were in prophase of mitosis?

Meiosis

1. Meiosis is also called reductional division because the number of chromosomes is halved as compared to the parent cells.
2. Meiosis is limited to reproductive cells and it forms gametes - sperms in male and eggs in female.
3. It is divided into two stages: meiosis I and meiosis II.

Meiosis I

1. It is a heterotypic division where the number of chromosomes is halved from the parental chromosomes.
2. Thus, the two daughter cells formed at the end of meiosis I are haploid.

Meiosis II

1. It is a homotypic type of division which is similar to mitosis.
2. The haploid nuclei will divide mitotically into four haploid cells.

Thus, 12 chromosomes obtained in prophase II are haploid and the diploid cell will contain 24 chromosomes in prophase of mitosis.