Question

All of the following make meiosis different from mitosis, EXCEPT?

1) meiosis comprises two divisions.
2) chromosome number is reduced by half in meiosis.
3) resulting cells from meiosis are genetically different from the parent cell.
4) meiosis lacks preceding S and G2 phases.
5) pairing of homologous chromosomes usually only occurs in meiosis.

Answer 1

Meiosis does not lack preceding S and G2 phases; this is the incorrect statement that does not differentiate meiosis from mitosis. Meiosis is characterized by two nuclear divisions, halving of chromosome number, genetic diversity, and pairing of homologous chromosomes.

Step-by-step explanation:

All of the options listed make meiosis different from mitosis, except for option 4: meiosis lacks preceding S and G2 phases. This statement is incorrect because both meiosis and mitosis are preceded by an interphase consisting of the G1, S, and G2 phases. During these phases, cells grow and prepare for division, with the S phase being particularly crucial as it is when the cell replicates its DNA.

In contrast, the correct statements that differentiate meiosis from mitosis are:

• Meiosis comprises two nuclear divisions (Meiosis I and Meiosis II), leading to four daughter cells.
• The chromosome number is halved in meiosis, producing haploid cells from a diploid parent cell.
• The resulting cells from meiosis are genetically different from the parent cell due to crossing over and independent assortment.
• Pairing of homologous chromosomes and crossing over usually only occurs in meiosis, creating genetic diversity.