Final answer:
The statement about a point mutation is false. A point mutation involves a change in a single nucleotide base pair, not chromosome separation.
Step-by-step explanation:
A point mutation is not the failure of a chromosome pair to separate during mitosis. This statement is false. The failure of a chromosome pair to separate during mitosis is known as nondisjunction. Instead, a point mutation refers to a change at a specific point in the DNA sequence, affecting a single nucleotide base pair. Nondisjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes to separate during meiosis I or the failure of sister chromatids to separate during meiosis II. This can lead to the formation of aneuploid gametes, which are gametes with an abnormal number of chromosomes (n+1 or n-1). These errors in chromosome separation can result in genetic disorders due to an imbalanced chromosome number in the resultant gametes.
During meiosis I, nondisjunction may occur if the homologous chromosomes do not separate, leading to two gametes missing that particular chromosome and two gametes with two copies. If nondisjunction occurs during meiosis II, it can result in one gamete without that chromosome, two normal gametes, and one gamete with two copies. Polyploid is a term used to describe an individual with more than two complete sets of chromosomes, which is a different kind of chromosomal abnormality unrelated to point mutations.