Final answer:
The phases of the cell cycle that together accounted for approximately 1% of the onion cells are Metaphase and Anaphase, as their combined count is 4, which is approximately 0.83% of the total 480 cells observed.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a biology lab, students recorded the number of onion cells observed in each phase of the cell cycle. To determine which phases together accounted for approximately 1% of the cells, we sum the frequencies of the phases and divide by the total number of observed cells. We have the following data: Interphase - 461, Prophase - 12, Metaphase - 2, Anaphase - 2, and Telophase - 3. Adding up the number of cells in Metaphase and Anaphase gives us 2 + 2 = 4, and for Telophase, we have 3 cells. By doing the math we find:
Total cells = 461 + 12 + 2 + 2 + 3 = 480
Now, we calculate the percentage for each pair of phases:
- Metaphase and Anaphase: (4/480) * 100 ≈ 0.83%
- Metaphase and Telophase: (5/480) * 100 ≈ 1.04%
- Considering both calculations, the phases Metaphase and Anaphase together account for less than 1% of the onion cells, while Metaphase and Telophase together account for a little over 1%. Therefore, the closest answer to 1% is Metaphase and Anaphase.
The mitotic phase includes Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase, and is a relatively short period compared to Interphase. During the mitotic phase, the cell divides into two daughter cells through a process consisting of these stages in that specific order. Although not specified in the question, it's worth noting the importance of Cytokinesis, which is the process that follows the completion of Telophase and divides the cytoplasm of the cellular parent into two daughter cells.