Question

5. During a classroom activity, students are asked to model the process of gamete formation. They use colored beads to represent chromosomes and notice that each time they repeat the process, the gametes look slightly different. One group thinks this is because the beads are randomly assigned by the teacher. Another group insists it’s because meiosis reduces the number of chromosomes in gametes. The teacher reminds them that sperm and egg cells are not identical to the parent cell, but together they provide the genetic material for a new organism. A few students still wonder if gametes might contain full sets of DNA so that offspring inherit “all” of their parents’ information.

Which statements about gametes and meiosis are correct?
(Select all that apply).

Responses

A. Meiosis creates gametes with half the normal number of chromosomes.
A. Meiosis creates gametes with half the normal number of chromosomes.

B. Gametes are identical to the parent cell in chromosome number.
B. Gametes are identical to the parent cell in chromosome number.

C. Gametes from the same parent can differ because of the way chromosomes are sorted.
C. Gametes from the same parent can differ because of the way chromosomes are sorted.

D. Gametes contain DNA from both parents before fertilization.
D. Gametes contain DNA from both parents before fertilization.

E. Meiosis ensures that every gamete is genetically identical.

Answer 1

Correct choices: A and C.

- A is true — meiosis halves the chromosome number so gametes are haploid.
- C is true — independent assortment (random sorting of homologous chromosomes) and crossing over make gametes from the same parent genetically different.

Why the others are wrong:
- B is false — gametes do not have the same chromosome number as the parent’s somatic (diploid) cells.
- D is false — a gamete carries DNA from one parent (the individual that produced it). Note: within that parent’s chromosomes there can be mixed segments from that parent’s own mother and father because of recombination, but gametes do not contain DNA from both parents of the future offspring.
- E is false — meiosis generates genetic variation, so gametes are not all identical.