Question

A process called ____________ is an error in which chromosomes fail to separate and a gamete with too many or too few copies of a particular chromosome can be produced.

Answer 1

Nondisjunction is an error during meiosis where chromosomes fail to separate, resulting in gametes with an abnormal number of chromosomes, which can be either too many or too few.

Step-by-step explanation:

The process described in the question is called nondisjunction. This error occurs when chromosomes fail to separate properly during cell division. Specifically, nondisjunction can occur during either meiosis I or meiosis II with different consequences. If homologous chromosomes fail to separate during meiosis I, the result can be two gametes without the chromosome and two gametes with an extra copy.

Alternatively, if sister chromatids fail to separate during meiosis II, the resulting gametes may contain n+1 (one extra), n-1 (one missing), or the normal n number of chromosomes. This failure in separation leads to gametes that are aneuploid, which means they contain an abnormal number of chromosomes.