Question

Which of the following statements regarding meiosis is most accurate? ______

A) Haploid cells produce diploid cells.
B) Meiosis has the same number of stages as mitosis.
C) Homologous (non-sister) chromatids separate during anaphase II.
D) Crossing over occurs during metaphase I.
E) A diploid cell produces haploid daughter cells.

Answer 1

The most accurate description of meiosis is that a diploid cell produces four genetically diverse haploid daughter cells. This process includes one round of DNA replication followed by two divisions: meiosis I and II. Option E)

Step-by-step explanation:

The most accurate statement regarding meiosis is A diploid cell produces haploid daughter cells. During meiosis, a single round of chromosome replication is followed by two rounds of nuclear division, resulting in four haploid cells from one diploid parent cell. The first division, called meiosis I, separates homologous chromosomes, reducing the chromosome number by half. The second division, meiosis II, is similar to mitosis and separates the sister chromatids.

Crossing over typically occurs during prophase I, not metaphase I, contributing to genetic diversity in the resulting gametes. Homologous chromosomes are paired during prophase I, which allows for the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids. This is a key step that increases variability among the resulting gametes.