EMBRYOLOGY
CHROMOSOMES AND CELL DIVISIONS
|
Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
|
|
|
To double the number of chromosomes going into sex cells
|
|
|
To halve the number of chromosomes going into sex cells
|
|
|
To triple the number of chromosomes going into sex cells
|
|
|
To not change the number of chromosomes going into sex cells
|
Detailed explanation-1: -Because meiosis creates cells that are destined to become gametes (or reproductive cells), this reduction in chromosome number is critical-without it, the union of two gametes during fertilization would result in offspring with twice the normal number of chromosomes!
Detailed explanation-2: -It is important that gametes have half the amount of DNA (haploid) so that at fertilisation when the egg and sperm combine it results in a cell with a full complement of DNA. Errors can occur during meiosis producing gametes with an extra or missing chromosome.
Detailed explanation-3: -Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction.