13-7TYU Explain how you can tell that th... [FREE SOLUTION]

Chapter 13: 13-7TYU (page 268)

Explain how you can tell that the cell in question 6 is undergoing meiosis, not mitosis.

Short Answer

Expert verified

There are two homologs associated with the homologous pair present in the metaphase plate. It does not take place in mitosis. The presence of chiasma reveals that this is the process of meiosis.

Step by step solution

Description of mitosis

There are different phases involved in mitosis: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and finally, cytokinesis. Mitosis is the cell division mechanism that forms two diploid cells.

Description of meiosis

Meiosis is the process in the sex cells that involves the formation of four haploid cells. There are two phases such as meiosis I and meiosis II.

Meiosis I involves the division of homologous pairs present in the cell, starting from diploid and resulting in haploid. Meiosis II begins from the haploid of meiosis I and ends in haploid cells.

Step 3: Process followed in question 6

There are unique features of meiosis present in the illustrated image. The first one is the presence of homologous pairs associated with the metaphase plate. The homologous pairs are made of two homologs. The segment with the presence of the same gene in the same locus is known as homologs.

The other feature is the presence of chiasma. It is the contact present between the chromatids of the homologous chromosomes. It indicates the crossing-over process has taken place. It confirms the process of meiosis.

Hence, the process is confirmed as meiosis due to the presence of homologs and chiasma.