How do the cells produced at the end of Meiosis II compare to each other?
The correct answer and explanation is :
At the end of Meiosis II, the cells produced are haploid (having half the number of chromosomes as the original diploid cell), and each of them is genetically unique. These cells are called gametes (sperm or egg cells in animals, and pollen or ovules in plants).
Explanation:
Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, ensuring that the resulting cells (gametes) have only one set of chromosomes, which is crucial for sexual reproduction. It consists of two main divisions: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
- Meiosis I is known as the reduction division, where homologous chromosomes (chromosomes from the mother and father) are separated. This results in two haploid cells, each with one chromosome from each homologous pair.
- Meiosis II is similar to mitosis, where the sister chromatids of each chromosome are separated into different cells. However, since the cells are already haploid at the start of Meiosis II, they don’t undergo chromosome replication before this division.
At the end of Meiosis II, four haploid cells are produced. These cells are genetically distinct from each other due to crossing over (exchange of genetic material) during Meiosis I and the random assortment of chromosomes. During crossing over, segments of chromatids are exchanged between homologous chromosomes, creating new combinations of alleles. Furthermore, the way chromosomes are randomly distributed to the gametes during Meiosis I and II contributes to the genetic diversity of the resulting cells.
These four gametes will have different combinations of alleles, which is essential for genetic variation in sexually reproducing organisms. This variation contributes to the diversity of traits in offspring, ensuring that each individual is genetically unique. Therefore, the cells produced at the end of Meiosis II are not only haploid but also genetically distinct from one another.