Meiosis reduces the chromosome number to half through a process of <span title="duplication-division-division.">duplication-division-divi...</span>

Question

However, it would also be theoretically possible to reduce the chromosome number by half by merely dividing without any duplication of chromosomes. In such an alternative scenario, which would be true?

a. This would be identical to prokaryotic binary fission.

b. This would eliminate the variation that is achieved by crossing over. c. This would produce identical gametes.

d. This would be identical to mitosis.

e. This would still require two divisions to half the number of chromosomes.

Answer 1

b.

Answer 2

a.  No - DNA is replicated in prokaryotic binary fission

b.  Not necessarily - the unreplicated chromosomes would still have to pair up and therefore crossing over could still occur

c.  No - your two versions of each chromosome are not identical - mom&#039;s genes and dad&#039;s genes weren&#039;t the same (unless your mom and dad were identical twins, but we won&#039;t think about that)

d.  No - DNA is replicated in meiosis and you don&#039;t halve the genetic material

e.  No - if you haven&#039;t replicated the DNA and the unreplicated pairs of chromsomes pair up and then split, then you would achieve half the chromsomes with one division

None of these is a correct answer.  The only possible one would be b., but that&#039;s assuming that the process works more differently than as described.