At the beginning of mitosis, a human cell contains 46 chromosomes, which are visible as distinct structures under a light microscope. These chromosomes are in their condensed form, having been replicated during the previous interphase. Each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids, joined at a region called the centromere. Therefore, while there are 46 chromosomes, they can be seen as 92 chromatids during this early stage of mitosis.
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