Final answer:
The true statement regarding chromosomes from the options provided is that hereditary material is contained in the chromosomes, which are found in the cells' nuclei and hold genetic information in genes. Sexual reproduction involves meiosis, where chromosomes are replicated and distributed to produce four haploid gametes with one set of chromosomes.
Step-by-step explanation:
Which of the following is true of chromosomes? The correct answer is d. Hereditary material is contained in the chromosomes. Chromosomes consist of DNA, the molecule that holds the instructions for all of the biological features and functions in living organisms. These chromosomes are found in the nucleus of each cell and carry genetic information in the form of genes.
In humans, chromosomes come in 23 pairs, with one chromosome of each pair inherited from one parent and the other chromosome from the second parent. During mitosis, a single chromosome from each pair is passed on to each daughter cell, ensuring that the resulting cells are genetically identical to the original cell and have the same number of chromosomes. In meiosis, which is the process of creating gametes, two divisions occur. The end result, after two stages of division (meiosis I and II), is four haploid daughter cells, with each containing only one chromosome from each homologous pair.
Meiosis
During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes separate, and after meiosis II, sister chromatids separate, leading to four haploid cells each with one copy of each chromosome - reflecting a reduction from the diploid state.