NEETBotanyCell Cycle and Cell Division
What is the purpose of meiosis?
Options
- ATo increase the chromosome number by half
- BTo reduce the chromosome number by half
- CTo maintain the chromosome number in the parent cell
- DTo increase the chromosome number in the daughter cell
Correct answer
B. To reduce the chromosome number by half
Step-by-step solution
It is called the reduction division since it reduces the chromosome number by half while making the gametes. In the first meiotic division the homologous chromosomes pair to form bivalents, and undergo crossing over. Meiosis I has a long prophase, which is divided further into five phases. These are leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene and diakinesis. During metaphase I the bivalents arrange on the equatorial plate. This is followed by anaphase I in which homologous chromosomes move to the opposite poles with