Question
Which example would likely result in new combinations of DNA in an individual's offspring?
a. UV radiation causing a mutation in a skin cell resulting in melanoma.
b. Sister chromatids crossing over during mitosis in a heart cell.
c. Homologous chromosomes failing to separate during meiosis.
d. A spontaneous mutation to the DNA in a lung cell during mitosis.
a. UV radiation causing a mutation in a skin cell resulting in melanoma.
b. Sister chromatids crossing over during mitosis in a heart cell.
c. Homologous chromosomes failing to separate during meiosis.
d. A spontaneous mutation to the DNA in a lung cell during mitosis.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The example that would likely result in new combinations of DNA in an individual's offspring is:
**c. Homologous chromosomes failing to separate during meiosis.**
This process, known as nondisjunction, can lead to gametes with an abnormal number of chromosomes. If such gametes are involved in fertilization, they can produce offspring with different chromosomal combinations, potentially resulting in genetic disorders or variations within the offspring.
The other options (a, b, and d) involve mutations or processes that do not affect the genetic combination in offspring. Option a is a mutation in a somatic cell, option b describes an incorrect process (crossing over occurs during meiosis, not mitosis), and option d describes a mutation in a somatic cell that would not be passed to offspring.
**c. Homologous chromosomes failing to separate during meiosis.**
This process, known as nondisjunction, can lead to gametes with an abnormal number of chromosomes. If such gametes are involved in fertilization, they can produce offspring with different chromosomal combinations, potentially resulting in genetic disorders or variations within the offspring.
The other options (a, b, and d) involve mutations or processes that do not affect the genetic combination in offspring. Option a is a mutation in a somatic cell, option b describes an incorrect process (crossing over occurs during meiosis, not mitosis), and option d describes a mutation in a somatic cell that would not be passed to offspring.