Meiosis Review Questions
1. What is the term for a pair of chromosomes that have the same length, same centromere
position, and carry genes that control the same traits?
A.) diploid
B.) heterozygous
C.) homozygous D.) homologous
2. How does the number of chromosomes in gametes compare with the number of
chromosomes in body cells?
A.) Gametes have 1/4 the number of chromosomes.
B.) Gametes have 1/2 the number of chromosomes.
C.) Gametes have the same number of chromosomes.
D.) Gametes have twice as many chromosomes.
3. Which explains how the shuffling of genes during meiosis results in billions of possible
combinations?
A.) crossing over
B.) gene linkage
C.) genetic recombination
D.) independent segregation
4. Two genes on the same chromosome may become separated during meiosis.
A.) true
B.) false
5. How many chromatids would a cell have during metaphase I of meiosis if it has 12
chromosomes during interphase?
A.) 6
B.) 12
C.) 24
D.) 36
6. Which stage of meiosis is illustrated?
A.) prophase I
C.) anaphase I
B.) interphase
D.) anaphase II
7. What is the next step for the chromosomes illustrated in the previous question?
A.) Chromosomes replicate.
B.) Chromosomes move to opposite poles.
C.) Chromosomes uncoil and form two nuclei.
D.) Chromosomes line up at the equator.
8. What is this process called?
A.) fertilization
C.) inheritance
B.) gamete formation
D.) reproduction
9. Before meiosis I, the sister chromatids of this chromosome were identical. What process
caused a change in a section of one chromatid?
A.) DNA replication
C.) synapsis
B.) crossing over
D.) telophase
10. At what stage is the chromosome number reduced from 2n to n?
A.) prophase I
C.) anaphase I
B.) metaphase I
D.) meiosis II
11. The picture depicts what phase of meiosis?
12. The normal species chromosome number is called ________________________________.
13. Which cell is produced as a result of meiosis?
A.) red blood cell
B.) nerve cell
C.) ovary cell
D.) sperm cell
14. Meiosis results in _____
A.) 2 haploid daughter cells
C.) 2 diploid daughter cells
B.) 4 haploid daughter cells
D.) 4 diploid daughter cells
15. Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces:
A.) zygotes
B.) chromosomes
C.) DNA
D.) gametes
16. A cell with a diploid number of 24 undergoes meiosis, how many chromosomes are in
each daughter cell?
A.) 6
B.) 12
C.) 24
D.) 48
17. What is the importance of crossing over?
A.) It provides extra genetic material for the daughter cells.
B.) It increases the likelihood that daughter cells contain different genetic material.
C.) It increases chromosome condensation.
D.) It separates the homologous chromosomes.
18. The moving apart of each pair of homologous chromosomes during anaphase I of
meiosis is called
A.) duplication
B.) crossing over
C.) disjunction
D.) replication
E.) synapsis
19. Which of the following is characteristic of the first division of meiosis but not mitosis?
A.) Chromosomes are duplicated prior to division.
B.) Nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear in prophase.
C.) Sister chromatids are attached to each other at the centromere.
D.) Homologous chromosomes pair.
E.) none of the above.
20. What would happen to the normal chromosome number of each generation if meiosis
did not occur?
21. Which situation is a result of crossing-over during meiosis ?
A.) Chromosomes are formed
B.) Genes are rearranged, increasing the variability of offspring
C.) Genes are duplicated exactly, ensuring that offspring will be identical to the parent
D.) Chromosomes fail to sort independently, creating abnormal chromosome numbers
22. In a species of corn, the diploid number of chromosomes is 20. What is the number of
chromosomes found in each of the normal egg cells produced by this species?
A.) 10
B.) 5
C.) 40
D.) 20
23. During synapsis, homologous pairs of chromosomes often twist around each other, break,
exchange segments, and rejoin. This process usually contributes to
A.) nondisjunction of homologous chromosomes
B.) increased variability in offspring
C.) the formation of polyploid offspring
D.) the production of identical twins
24. Mutations can be transmitted to the next generation only if they are present in
A.) brain cells
B.) sex cells
C.) body cells
D.) muscle cells
25. Which diagram illustrates fertilization that would most likely lead to the development of a
normal human female?
A.) 1 B.) 2
C.) 3
D.) 4