AP BIOLOGY

CELL DIVISION

THE CELL CYCLE

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Compared to the number of chromosomes contained in a body cell, how many chromosomes would normally be contained in a gamete?
A
The same number
B
One-fourth as many
C
Twice as many
D
Half as many
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -In humans, n = 23. Gametes contain half the chromosomes contained in normal diploid cells of the body, which are also known as somatic cells. Haploid gametes are produced during meiosis, which is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in a parent diploid cell by half.

Detailed explanation-2: -Human body cells have 46 chromosomes, while human gametes (sperm or eggs) have 23 chromosomes each. A typical body cell, or somatic cell, contains two matched sets of chromosomes, a configuration known as diploid.

Detailed explanation-3: -Egg and sperm cells have just 23 chromosomes each. That’s half as many chromosomes as regular cells. Through the process of fertilization, egg and sperm join to make a cell with 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), called a zygote. For each chromosome pair, one homologous chromosome came from each parent.

Detailed explanation-4: -Therefore, meiosis results in four haploid genetically unique daughter cells, each with half the DNA of the parent cell (Figure below). In human cells, the parent cell has 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), so the cells produced by meiosis have 23 chromosomes. These cells will become gametes. An overview of meiosis.

Detailed explanation-5: -So, haploid cells contain half the number of chromosomes of somatic cells. Therefore, if we divide the 46 chromosomes we know exist in diploid somatic cells by two, we get 23. This means each gamete contains 23 chromosomes. In sexual reproduction, during fertilization, an egg and a sperm cell join to form a zygote.

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