Subject: Do chromosomes exist before prophase of the cell cycle?

Chromosomes only become distinct during prophase of the cell cycle; does that mean that they do 
not exist before prophase? Does DNA begin to supercoil around its associated histone proteins 
prior to prophase, or just during prophase? What is the physical state of DNA molecules prior to 
prophase? I've heard that DNA molecules are in a diffused state called chromatin in the nucleus 
prior to cell division. But what exactly is chromatin? As I understand it, chromatin is a substance of 
diffuse DNA molecules and histone proteins. Are the DNA molecules actually attached to the 
histone proteins before prophase/the beginning of cell division? Has a DNA-protein complex 
already been formed at this point? Does the DNA-histone complex perhaps form as soon as DNA 
molecules are formed from DNA replication during S phase of interphase? When then does the 
supercoiling of the DNA and histones begin? Also, I've heard conflicting statements about the 
number of DNA molecules in a chromosome. Is it 1 or 2? If it's 2, is it because there is 1 DNA 
molecule in each chromatid of the chromosome?
Thank you very much. I am very grateful for any help you may be able to offer me. 

Re: Do chromosomes exist before prophase of the cell cycle?