Question

A researcher wants to design a drug that targets rapidly dividing cancer cells by disrupting spindle fiber formation. Which phase of mitosis would the drug affect first and what would be the expected effect?(1 point)

Prophase; the chromosomes would fail to condense properly.

Metaphase; the chromosomes would fail to align at the equator.

Anaphase; the sister chromatids would not separate.

Telophase; the nuclear envelope would fail to reform.

Answer 1

Metaphase; the chromosomes would fail to align at the equator.

Explanation: spindle microtubules are required for kinetochore attachment and alignment at the metaphase plate, so disrupting spindle formation prevents proper chromosome alignment and activates the spindle checkpoint.