Paper 2 · Inheritance and Variation
Meiosis differs from mitosis in that meiosis
Aremoves one chromosome from each pair and destroys it before the cell divides
Bhalves the chromosome number, producing haploid cells from a diploid cell
Cdoubles the chromosome number, producing diploid cells from a haploid cell
Dkeeps the chromosome number the same in the parent cell and the daughter cells
Explanation: Homologous chromosomes are separated in the first meiotic division, so each daughter nucleus receives one of each pair. Halving the number in the gametes is what keeps the chromosome number of the species constant at fertilisation.
Derived from ZIMSEC Biology Paper 2, Nov 2004, Q11