Consider two cells, where one cell is haploid and the other is diploid. Which of the following differences between the two cells is observed during prophase of mitosis? a. In the haploid cell, only one pair of centrioles are present, whereas in the diploid cell, two pairs of centrioles are present. b. In the haploid cell, only one pair of homologous chromosomes are present, whereas in the diploid cell, two pairs of homologous chromosomes are present. c. In the haploid cell, only one pair of sister chromatids are present, whereas in the diploid cell, two pairs of sister chromatids are present. d. In the haploid cell, only one pair of telomeres are present, whereas in the diploid cell, two pairs of telomeres are present.

In the haploid cell, only one pair of sister chromatids are present, whereas in the diploid cell, two pairs of sister chromatids are present.

Explanation:

Chromosomes with their sister chromatids become visible during prophase. A haploid cell has only one complete set of chromosomes while there are two complete sets in a diploid cell. Therefore, prophase in a haploid cell would show the presence of only one pair of sister chromatids for each chromosome. This cell would not have the homologous pair with two pairs of sister chromatids.

On the other hand, the diploid cell would have two homologous chromosomes for one homologous pair. Each of the chromosomes of a pair would have two sister chromatids. Therefore, one homologous pair would have a total of four chromatids or two pairs of sister chromatids.