Question 1: Define meiosis and explain its purpose in living organisms.

Answer: Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four haploid cells, and is essential for sexual reproduction.

Question 2: Describe the main stages of meiosis and how they differ from mitosis.

Answer: Meiosis consists of two divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II, resulting in four genetically diverse haploid cells, unlike mitosis which produces two identical diploid cells.

Question 1: If a parent cell has 46 chromosomes, how many chromosomes will each gamete contain after meiosis?

Answer: 23

Question 2: Calculate the total number of possible genetic combinations in a human gamete due to independent assortment, given that humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Use the formula 2^n, where n = number of chromosome pairs.

Answer: 8388608

Question 1: List three safety precautions that should be followed when working with biological specimens in a laboratory setting.

Answer: Wearing gloves and lab coats, proper disposal of specimens, and avoiding ingestion or inhalation of chemicals.

Question 2: Identify the variables that could affect the outcome of an experiment studying meiosis in plant cells.

Answer: Variables include temperature, pH levels, and the type of plant species used.

Question 1: A researcher observes that after meiosis in a certain species of fish, 25% of the resulting gametes carry an abnormal number of chromosomes. What might be the implications for the population?

Answer: The presence of abnormal gametes could lead to genetic disorders or reduced fertility, affecting population stability.

Question 2: Explain how meiosis contributes to genetic diversity in sexually reproducing organisms.

Answer: Meiosis introduces genetic diversity through crossing over during prophase I and independent assortment of chromosomes during metaphase I, resulting in genetically unique gametes.

Question 1: Discuss how errors in meiosis can lead to genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.

Answer: Errors in meiosis, such as nondisjunction, result in an abnormal number of chromosomes in gametes. When such gametes fuse during fertilization, it can cause disorders like Down syndrome, which is characterized by an extra copy of chromosome 21.

Question 2: In agriculture, how can understanding meiosis improve crop breeding techniques?

Answer: By understanding meiosis, breeders can manipulate crossing over and chromosome pairing to develop crops with desirable traits and increased genetic diversity.