Question
What happens during Meiosis?
Two sex cells combine two form a single new cell
Each sex cell copies itself to form four new chromosomes
Chromosomes pears remain together when new sex cells are formed
Chromosome pairs separate and are distributed into new ex cells
Two sex cells combine two form a single new cell
Each sex cell copies itself to form four new chromosomes
Chromosomes pears remain together when new sex cells are formed
Chromosome pairs separate and are distributed into new ex cells
Answers
GPT-4o mini
Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms and is essential for the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs). Here’s a summary of what happens during meiosis:
1. **Two sex cells combine to form a single new cell**: This statement is not correct in the context of meiosis itself, but it describes fertilization, which occurs after meiosis. During meiosis, the goal is to produce sex cells (gametes), not to combine them.
2. **Each sex cell copies itself to form four new chromosomes**: This statement is misleading. Before meiosis begins, the cell does copy its chromosomes (during the S phase of interphase) to prepare for division. However, meiosis does not form 'four new chromosomes'; instead, it results in gametes that will have half the number of chromosomes, leading to a reduction from diploid (2n) to haploid (n) cells.
3. **Chromosome pairs remain together when new sex cells are formed**: This statement is inaccurate. During meiosis, specifically in the first meiotic division (meiosis I), homologous chromosome pairs are separated into different cells. This is key to reducing the chromosome number.
4. **Chromosome pairs separate and are distributed into new sex cells**: This statement is correct. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated into different daughter cells. In meiosis II, which is similar to mitosis, the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated. The final result is four haploid gametes, each with half the original chromosome number.
In summary, the most accurate description of what happens during meiosis is that chromosome pairs separate and are distributed into new sex cells.
1. **Two sex cells combine to form a single new cell**: This statement is not correct in the context of meiosis itself, but it describes fertilization, which occurs after meiosis. During meiosis, the goal is to produce sex cells (gametes), not to combine them.
2. **Each sex cell copies itself to form four new chromosomes**: This statement is misleading. Before meiosis begins, the cell does copy its chromosomes (during the S phase of interphase) to prepare for division. However, meiosis does not form 'four new chromosomes'; instead, it results in gametes that will have half the number of chromosomes, leading to a reduction from diploid (2n) to haploid (n) cells.
3. **Chromosome pairs remain together when new sex cells are formed**: This statement is inaccurate. During meiosis, specifically in the first meiotic division (meiosis I), homologous chromosome pairs are separated into different cells. This is key to reducing the chromosome number.
4. **Chromosome pairs separate and are distributed into new sex cells**: This statement is correct. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated into different daughter cells. In meiosis II, which is similar to mitosis, the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated. The final result is four haploid gametes, each with half the original chromosome number.
In summary, the most accurate description of what happens during meiosis is that chromosome pairs separate and are distributed into new sex cells.