Question

Sort the statements according to whether they are true for mitosis only, meiosis only, both mitosis and meiosis, or neither.

This occurs in liver cells. Somatic cells are produced. There is one nuclear division. The daughter cells contain pairs of homologous chromosomes. The daughter cells are identical. The DNA is replicated twice- once before each round of division. This generates genetic diversity. Sister chromatids separate. Four daughter cells are produced. There are two nuclear divisions. The DNA is replicated once prior to cell division. Four daughter cells are produced. Selected Mitosis only Meiosis only Both mitosis and meiosis Neither mitosis nor meiosis

Answer 1

Ans 1) This occurs in liver cells -> Mitosis only (mitosis can result in the division of cells to replace the worn out or damaged cells.Meiosis will occur only in gonads).

Ans 2) Somatic cells are produced --> Mitosis only (mitosis will result in the formation of somatic cells and not gametes wheras meiosis take place for the formation of four haploid gametes at the end of meiosis).

Ans 3) There is one nuclear division --> Mitosis only

(Two nuclear divisions will be observed in Meiosis wheras only one nuclear division will be observed in mitosis)

Ans 4) The daughter cells contain pairs of homologous chromosomes --> Meiosis only

(Particularly, this will be observed at the end of Meiosis-I because in Meiosis-I we know that tetrad formation occurs in prophase-I of Meiosis-I and during anaphase-I stage, there will be separation of this tetrad into sister chromatid pairs to the opposite ends of the cell. After telophase, thus we can observe that the daughter cells contain pairs of homologous chromosomes.In anaphase-II of Meiosis-II, there will be separation of sister chromatids and at the end of Meiosis-II, we will observe that the daughter cells are haploid).

Ans 5) The daughter cells are identical --> Mitosis only

(In mitosis, the daughter cells will be identical to their parents wheras in meiosis, the daughter cells will be different from their parents because in the meiosis, crossing over and independent assortment takes place in Prophase-I and Metaphase-I stages of Meiosis-I respectively).

Ans 6) The DNA is replicated twice - once before each round of division --> neither mitosis nor meiosis

(DNA replication occurs only in the S phase of cell cycle)

Ans 7) This generates genetic diversity --> Meiosis only

(As we have discussed that in the meiosis, there will be crossing over between two homologous chromosomes and this results in the genetic diversity)

Ans 8) Sister chromatids separate --> Both mitosis and meiosis

(Sister chromatids will separate in anaphase stage of mitosis and anaphase-II stage of Meiosis-II)

Ans 9) Four daughter cells are produced --> Meiosis only

(At the end of Meiosis, 4 haploid daughter cells are produced wheras at the end of mitosis, 2 diploid daughter cells are produced).

Ans 10) There are two nuclear divisions --> Meiosis only

Ans 11) The DNA is replicated once prior to cell division --> Neither mitosis nor meiosis

(The DNA replication will occur only in the S phase. In the mitosis and meiosis processes, M phase is initiated).

Ans 12) Four daughter cells are produced -> Meiosis only.