Final answer:
Chromatin does form chromatids during metaphase, and this statement is true. The compacting process of chromatin is crucial for cell division, going from less condensed forms to highly condensed chromosomes composed of sister chromatids.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that chromatin forms chromatids during metaphase is true. Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins (primarily histones) that exists within the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. During the majority of the cell's life cycle, specifically in interphase, chromatin is not fully condensed. However, it can be found in two different states: euchromatin, which is less dense and contains active genes, and heterochromatin, which is more densely packed and typically includes genes that are not being expressed.
As the cell enters mitosis, chromatin undergoes several levels of organization and condensation. First, it forms nucleosomes (resembling 'beads on a string'), then these beads coil into 30 nm fibers and eventually undergo higher-order packing to form chromosomes. Each chromosome, composed of two identical copies called sister chromatids, is connected at a centromere. When cells reach metaphase, chromosomes are aligned on the metaphase plate and are at their highest level of compaction to ensure proper segregation to daughter cells during cell division.