Humber Admissions Practice Test

In meiosis, what is the result of the cell division?

1. Production of somatic cells

2. Creation of haploid reproductive cells

3. Formation of diploid cells

4. Replication of chromosomes

The correct answer is: Creation of haploid reproductive cells

The correct answer is the creation of haploid reproductive cells. In meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division to produce four haploid cells. This process is essential for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when gametes (sperm and eggs) fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes. Meiosis also involves genetic recombination and independent assortment, which contribute to genetic diversity in the offspring. This is contrasted with somatic cell production, which would occur in mitosis, and diploid cell formation, which refers to the initial state of the cell before meiosis starts. Chromosome replication is a step that occurs prior to the actual meiotic division but does not constitute the end result of meiosis itself. Thus, the creation of haploid reproductive cells is the essential outcome of this specialized form of cell division.