Question

A cell undergoing meiosis II experiences a problem with its microtubules, such that proper separation of the paired chromosomes carrying alleles Q and q does not occur during anaphase and they are inherited together. What is the most likely effect on the four daughter cells?

a) All four daughter cells will have a normal distribution of alleles.
b) All four daughter cells will have the same alleles, either all Q or all q.
c) Two daughter cells will have the Q allele, and two will have the q allele.
d) One daughter cell will have both Q and q alleles, while the other three will have only one of them.

Answer 1

The most likely effect on the four daughter cells is that one will have both Q and q alleles, while the other three will have only one of them.

Step-by-step explanation:

The most likely effect on the four daughter cells when a cell undergoing meiosis II experiences a problem with its microtubules, such that proper separation of the paired chromosomes carrying alleles Q and q does not occur during anaphase, is d) One daughter cell will have both Q and q alleles, while the other three will have only one of them.

During meiosis II, sister chromatids should separate and segregate into four haploid sex cells. However, if the microtubules fail to properly separate the chromosomes carrying alleles Q and q, they will be inherited together in one of the daughter cells, resulting in that cell having both alleles. The other three daughter cells will each have only one of the alleles, either Q or q.

This aberration causes an unequal distribution of alleles, leading to genetic imbalance among the daughter cells.