Which of the following statements is/are true about meiosis? Select all that apply. Part 2 of 4 eBook References Meiosis produces four haploid cells. Meiosis produces growth in humans. Meiosis produces two diploid cells. Meiosis produces nonidentical cells. The daughter cells of meiosis have half as many chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis produces gametes
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct statements about meiosis are:
- Meiosis produces four haploid cells.
- Meiosis produces nonidentical cells.
- The daughter cells of meiosis have half as many chromosomes as the parent cell.
- Meiosis produces gametes.
Explanation:
Meiosis is a form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms. Its main function is to produce gametes, such as sperm and egg cells in animals. These gametes are essential for fertilization, where two haploid cells fuse to restore the diploid chromosome number in offspring.
The process begins with one diploid parent cell and proceeds through two consecutive cell divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, and in meiosis II, sister chromatids are divided. The end result is four daughter cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. In humans, for example, the diploid number is 46, so each gamete ends with 23 chromosomes.
A key feature of meiosis is genetic variation. This is achieved through two mechanisms: crossing over, which occurs during prophase I when homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material, and independent assortment, which happens during metaphase I when chromosomes align randomly. These processes lead to the formation of nonidentical gametes, enhancing genetic diversity in the population.
It is incorrect to say that meiosis produces growth in humans or that it produces diploid cells. Growth is facilitated by mitosis, a different type of cell division that produces genetically identical diploid cells for tissue development and repair.
In conclusion, meiosis produces four genetically distinct haploid gametes, reduces the chromosome number by half, and introduces genetic variation, which is crucial for evolution and species survival.
