Final answer:
In mitosis, if a cell has 56 chromatids in prophase, after cell division, the daughter cells would each have 28 chromosomes, as chromatids separate to become individual chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Each daughter cell would contain 28 chromosomes after cell division if the original cell in prophase had 56 chromatids.
During the prophase of mitosis, chromosomes condense and become visible as pairs of sister chromatids. Each pair of sister chromatids is actually one chromosome consisting of two identical copies, connected at a common centromere. As the cell completes mitosis, sister chromatids separate, and each becomes an individual chromosome. Since there were 56 chromatids to begin with, representing doubled copies of chromosomes, upon separation, the number of chromosomes each daughter cell receives is half that number, giving a total of 28 chromosomes per daughter cell. Mitosis ensures that each daughter cell gets an equal and identical set of chromosomes, maintaining the same chromosome count as the parent cell. This is crucial for preserving the genetic integrity through cell generations.