Scanning electron microscope of human chromosomes in metaphase. Cell division is divided into 4 stages. Metaphase, the second stage, is pictured here. In Metaphase, the nuclear membrane has broken down, chromosomes exist as pairs of chromatids, and are attached to a series of microtubules called the spindle. A chromosome is formed from a DNA molecule strand containing gene segments that carry portions of hereditary information. Human beings have 23 Chromosomes. There are two copies of each chromosome in each of our cells, one set from the maternal and the other from the paternal parent. Magnification 7500x @ 8x10(inches).