Onion root tips are commonly used to study mitosis because they provide a clear and accessible way to observe the various stages of cell division. This is primarily due to the rapid growth rates of onion roots, which results in a high number of cells undergoing mitosis at any given time.
The root tips contain a region called the apical meristem, where cells are actively dividing. This area is enriched with cells in different phases of the cell cycle, making it an ideal location to capture images of mitosis, including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
Moreover, the cells in onion root tips are larger and less compact than those in other tissues, which allows for easier observation under a microscope. The chromosomes also stain well, making them more visible, which helps researchers and students identify the stages of mitosis easily.
Overall, onion root tips are a practical and effective educational tool for understanding the cell division process, making them a staple in biology classrooms.