Final answer:
Nondisjunction during meiosis can produce gametes with extra or missing chromosomes, potentially causing genetic abnormalities like Down Syndrome in offspring.
Step-by-step explanation:
During meiosis, the process of nondisjunction can result in the production of gametes that have an abnormal number of chromosomes, leading to offspring that may carry extra or missing chromosomes, a condition known as aneuploidy. This can happen during either the first or second division of meiosis. If nondisjunction occurs during Meiosis I, homologous chromosomes may fail to separate, producing two gametes that lack a chromosome and two that have an extra chromosome. Conversely, if nondisjunction happens during Meiosis II, sister chromatids don't separate, leading to one normal gamete, one with an extra chromosome, and one with a missing chromosome. Such errors during the cell division process can cause disorders like Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome), which is a result of an extra chromosome 21 due to nondisjunction.
Nondisjunction during meiosis creates gametes with abnormal chromosome numbers, potentially leading to genetic disorders in offspring. This error in chromosome segregation can contribute to conditions such as Down Syndrome, which is characterized by an extra chromosome 21.