If a parent cell has 16 chromosomes, then each of the daughter cells following meiosis will have a. 48 chromosomes. b. 32 chromosomes. c. 16 chromosomes. d. 8 chromosomes.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer: d. 8 chromosomes
During meiosis, a parent cell undergoes two successive divisions known as meiosis I and meiosis II. These divisions are essential for sexual reproduction because they reduce the chromosome number by half, ensuring that when gametes (sperm and egg) fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct number of chromosomes.
If a parent cell begins with 16 chromosomes, these are diploid (2n), meaning they come in pairs—one set from each parent. In humans, for example, diploid cells contain 46 chromosomes, or 23 pairs.
In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes (the pairs) are separated. This results in two haploid cells (n), each with half the original chromosome number. So from 16 chromosomes, the number is reduced to 8 chromosomes per cell after meiosis I. These 8 chromosomes still consist of sister chromatids, which will be separated in the next stage.
In meiosis II, these sister chromatids are pulled apart, but the chromosome number remains the same. Thus, the final result is four haploid daughter cells, each with 8 chromosomes. These cells are genetically unique due to processes like crossing over and independent assortment, which happen during meiosis I.
This reduction is critical. Without it, the fusion of two gametes during fertilization would double the chromosome number in each generation. Meiosis ensures that chromosome number is maintained across generations and that genetic variation is introduced.
Therefore, if the starting diploid cell has 16 chromosomes, each of the daughter cells after meiosis will have 8 chromosomes, making option d the correct answer.
