A scientist was collecting data about the number of chromosomes that a certain organism had. He found that most of the skin cells that he examined had a certain amount of chromosomal material, but he found some skin cells with double the chromosomal material. What might be the explanation for these findings

The cells with double amount of chromosomal materials are in G2 phase of the cell cycle.

Explanation:

The explanation for cells with double the amount of chromosomal materials of normal cells is that such cells are in G2 phase of the cell cycle.

The cell cycle consists of two main phases namely;

The interphase The mitotic phase

The interphase is sometimes referred to as the resting phase of a cell and further divided into;

The G0 phase: essentially a resting/quiscent phase for cells that do not divide ordinarily. The G1 phase: a phase of continuous growth and development for cells. The S phase: A phase where the genetic materials of a cell is doubled through replication. The G2 phase: A phase where protein is further synthesized before the cell moves to the active division phase.

The mitotic phase represents a phase of active division and is further divided into;

The prophase The metaphase The anaphase The telophase

Hence, a cell that is observed to have double the amount of chromosomal materials of most of the other cells must have just completed the S phase of the cell cycle during which the chromosomal materials must have been double.