Which term describes a type of cell division that halves the chromosome number in the daughter cells?

Which term describes a type of cell division that halves the chromosome number in the daughter cells?

• A. Mitosis
• B. Meiosis
• C. Chromosome
• D. Chromatids

Answer: (B)

Meiosis is the process that halves the chromosome number in the daughter cells. It involves two rounds of division—meiosis I and meiosis II. In the first division, homologous chromosomes are separated, reducing the chromosome count from diploid to haploid. In the second division, the sister chromatids are separated, producing four haploid gametes. This reduction is essential for sexual reproduction because it ensures that when a sperm and egg fuse, the offspring restore the original chromosome number. In contrast, mitosis is a single division that preserves the chromosome number, yielding two identical diploid daughter cells. A chromosome is the DNA-protein structure that carries genes, while chromatids are the identical copies of a chromosome held together at the centromere until they are separated.

Meiosis is the process that halves the chromosome number in the daughter cells. It involves two rounds of division—meiosis I and meiosis II. In the first division, homologous chromosomes are separated, reducing the chromosome count from diploid to haploid. In the second division, the sister chromatids are separated, producing four haploid gametes. This reduction is essential for sexual reproduction because it ensures that when a sperm and egg fuse, the offspring restore the original chromosome number. In contrast, mitosis is a single division that preserves the chromosome number, yielding two identical diploid daughter cells. A chromosome is the DNA-protein structure that carries genes, while chromatids are the identical copies of a chromosome held together at the centromere until they are separated.