AP BIOLOGY

CELL DIVISION

MEIOSIS AND GENETIC VARIATION

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
What process occurs in metaphase I that leads to genetic diversity?
A
Crossing Over
B
Independent assortment
C
Synapsis
D
Tetrad alignment
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The law of independent assortment states that the random orientation of homologous chromosome pairs during metaphase I allow for the production of gametes with many different assortments of homologous chromosomes.

Detailed explanation-2: -What stage of meiosis does independent assortment occur? Independent assortment in meiosis takes place in eukaryotes during metaphase I of meiotic division. It produces a gamete carrying mixed chromosomes. Gametes contain half the number of regular chromosomes in a diploid somatic cell.

Detailed explanation-3: -During metaphase of meiosis I, synapsed pairs of homologous chromosomes (known as bivalents or tetrads) are lined up on an imaginary plane in the middle of the cell called the metaphase plate. The chromosomes are attached to spindle fibres at their centromeres.

Detailed explanation-4: -What is the law of independent assortment? Mendel’s law of independent assortment states that the alleles of two (or more) different genes get sorted into gametes independently of one another. In other words, the allele a gamete receives for one gene does not influence the allele received for another gene.

Detailed explanation-5: -Independent Assortment and Random Fertilization During metaphase I, the tetrads move to the metaphase plate with kinetochores facing opposite poles. The homologous pairs orient themselves randomly at the equator. This event is the second mechanism that introduces variation into the gametes or spores.

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