Question

Identify the wrong statement about meiosis
A. The pairing of homologous chromosomes
B. Four haploid cells are formed
C. At the end of meiosis number of chromosomes is reduced to half
D. Two-cycles of DNA replication occur

Answer 1

Hint: Meiosis is a type of cell division that occurs mainly in sexually reproducing organisms. It is a special type of division often known as reductional division. It results in the formation of gametes that contain half the number of alleles as a normal cell.

Complete answer: Meiosis is a special type of division seen in sexually reproducing organisms. Meiosis cell division occurs in gamete cells. These are usually sperm and egg in male and female parents respectively. Meiosis cell division occurs in two different phases each representing individual cell division. Thus, meiosis results in the formation of four daughter cells. These daughter cells have half the number of chromosomes as compared to parent cells. Thus, the daughter cells are haploid and for this reason, meiosis is stated as a reductional division. The haploid gametes so formed fuses from two different parents of the opposite sex during reproduction. This results in the formation of a zygote that is diploid meaning that the zygote contains a complete set of chromosomes having two copies for each gene.
Now, let us discuss each of the given statements to deduce the wrong one about meiosis.

During the prophase 1 stage of meiosis 1, the condensation of chromosomes takes place that results in close contact between the two homologous chromosomes. This pairing results in the formation of the synapse. Thus, the pairing of homologous chromosomes is an important aspect of meiosis. As discussed above that meiosis occurs in two phases that are meiosis 1 and meiosis 2, four haploid cells are indeed formed at the end. This is due to two individual reductional divisions. It is also true that at the end of meiosis, the number of chromosomes reduces to half. As four haploid cells are made from one parent cell, at each division the number of chromosomes gets half. This makes daughter cells haploid. In meiosis, two cycles of cell division occur and not two cycles of DNA replication. DNA replication refers to making copies of DNA. DNA replication occurs only once in the interphase stage of the cell cycle.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D.

Note: Meiosis is a necessary cell division in sexually reproducing organisms to ensure that offspring gets a normal set of chromosomes. The reduced number of chromosomes in the gametes restores fusion with other gametes that have half chromosomes number. If the reduction of chromosomes does not happen, then the zygote will carry more chromosomes than the normal. Also, meiosis ensures variations in the offspring.