Metaphase is the best time to count the number and study the morphology of chromosomes. At metaphase, the condensed chromosomes with two chromatids are arranged at the equatorial plate. Kinetochore, (disc shaped structures), consisting of multilayered plates of proteins, forms on opposite sides of each centromere and becomes intimately associated with the two sister chromatids. In onion root tip, each somatic cell contains 8 chromosomes. A cell undergoing cell division has duplicated its chromosomes thus a cell at metaphase stage of cell division has 16 chromosomes. As each chromosome has two kinetochores thus during metaphase 32 kinetochores can be seen.