All AP Biology Resources
Example Questions
Example Question #23 : Understanding Meiosis
Which of the following is a correct statement about the difference between meiosis and mitosis?
Mitosis produces two identical, haploid daughter cells after one division; meiosis produces four non-identical, diploid daughter cells after two divisions
Mitosis produces two identical, diploid daughter cells after one division; meiosis produces four non-identical, haploid daughter cells after two divisions
Mitosis produces two identical, diploid daughter cells after two divisions; meiosis produces four non-identical, haploid daughter cells after one division
Mitosis produces two non-identical, diploid daughter cells after one division; meiosis produces four identical, haploid daughter cells after two divisions
Mitosis produces four identical, diploid daughter cells after one division; meiosis produces two non-identical, haploid daughter cells after two divisions
Mitosis produces two identical, diploid daughter cells after one division; meiosis produces four non-identical, haploid daughter cells after two divisions
Mitosis is used by somatic cells throughout the body. The goal of mitosis is to replace older cells with newer, healthier cells. In order for this replacement to be effective, the daughter cells must be identical to the parent cell. Somatic cells, or "body cells," are diploid, meaning that they carry two copies of each allele. Each round of mitosis produces two daughter cells after one division.
Meiosis only takes place in the gonads and is used to produce gametes. Gametes fuse to form a diploid zygote, but each individual gamete carries only half of the genetic information to form this zygote; as such, all gametes are haploid and carry only one copy of each allele. Gametes are not identical to the parent cell for this reason (the parent cell is diploid). Genetic variation (crossing over) can also occur during meiosis to enhance genetic diversity. Each round of meiosis produces four daughter cells after two divisions.
Example Question #24 : Understanding Meiosis
During what phase of meiosis do tetrads align along the equatorial plate?
Metaphase II
Metaphase I
Prophase II
Prophase I
Metaphase I
Meiosis involves two cell divisions. During the first division, pairs of homologous chromosomes align at the center of the cell and are separated into two daughter cells. During the second division, single chromosomes align at the cell center (as they would during mitosis) and sister chromatids are separated into the daughter cells.
When homologous chromosomes align during the first division there are a total of four chromatids in each set, forming a tetrad. The alignment of chromosomes at the equatorial plate takes place during metaphase. Since we are looking at the alignment of chromosomes during the first meiotic division, the correct answer will be metaphase I.
Example Question #25 : Understanding Meiosis
What is the name of a pair of chromosomes that contains the same genes and loci?
Haploid chromosomes
Allele
Locus
Gene
Tetrad
Tetrad
In prophase I, a process called synapsis involves the pairing of chromosomes. Chromosome pairs are referred to as a tetrad, homologous pair, or as bivalents.
Example Question #25 : Understanding Meiosis
During which phase of meiosis does chiasmata occur?
Prophase II
Anaphase II
Metaphase I
Anaphase II
Prophase I
Prophase I
There are two events that occur in prophase I that do not occur in any other stage: chiasmata (crossing over) and synapsis (pairing of the chromosomes). Note that chiasmata does not occur during prophase of mitosis, but synapsis does occur.
Example Question #26 : Understanding Meiosis
Which of the following occur in both mitosis and meiosis?
Recombination between sister chromatids
Separation of sister chromatids
Prophase II
Metaphase II
Recombination between homologous chromosomes
Separation of sister chromatids
The separation of sister chromatids is the only item of the answer choices that occurs in both mitosis and meiosis. Prophase II and metaphase II only occur in meiosis, as does recombination between homologous chromosomes. Recombination between sister chromatids does not occur (they are identical).
Example Question #27 : Understanding Meiosis
A human cell has 44 chromosomes and two X chromosomes. It is __________.
a somatic cell from a male
a gamete from a female
a somatic cell from a female
an ovum
a sperm
a somatic cell from a female
Since the cell has 44 autosomes and two sex chromosomes it must be a somatic cell (2n=46). Two X chromosomes corresponds to a female so it must a somatic cell from a female. Sperm, and ova are the male and female gametes, which are haploid.
Example Question #28 : Understanding Meiosis
Meiosis in animals occurs in __________.
testes only
all cells in the animal's body
all somatic cells
both ovaries and testes
ovaries only
both ovaries and testes
Meiosis is the form of cell division that results in gametes and so meiosis takes place in both ovaries and testes, which are the primary sex organs. Somatic cells undergo mitosis for cell division, which yields identical daughter cells that are diploid.
Example Question #31 : Understanding Meiosis
Human gametes are produced by the process of __________.
mitosis
cytokinesis
meiosis
binary fission
fertilization
meiosis
Gametes are haploid cells that produced via meiosis. During meiosis, diploid cells divide into four nonidentical haploid daughter cells. Mitosis produces two identical diploid somatic cells from one parent cell.
Example Question #241 : Cell Functions
Meiosis in humans results in cells that have what number of chromosomes?
Meiosis results in cells with 23 chromosomes (22 autosomes and 1 sex chromosome). Note that these cells are haploid since n=23, and nonidentical, due to crossing over during prophase I.
Example Question #32 : Understanding Meiosis
What would happen if gametes were made by mitosis instead of meiosis?
With each generation, the number of chromosomes in each cell would double
Each generation of cells would have 44 chromosomes
More than one of these
Each generation of cells would have 23 chromosomes
Each generation of cells would have 46 chromosomes
With each generation, the number of chromosomes in each cell would double
Gametes are made via meiosis which produces cells with n=23 instead of diploid cells. If gametes were produced instead by mitosis each gamete would be diploid not haploid. During fertilization of diploid gametes, the zygote would become 4n=92. With each new generation the number of chromosomes would double.