Question
Identify a difference between mitosis and meiosis
(A) kinetochore fibers
(B) crossing over during synapsis
C) centrioles (if animal cells)
(D) separation of sister chromatids during at least one phase
(E) DNA replication
(A) kinetochore fibers
(B) crossing over during synapsis
C) centrioles (if animal cells)
(D) separation of sister chromatids during at least one phase
(E) DNA replication
Ask by Gough Vaughan. in the United States
Feb 11,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The main difference between mitosis and meiosis is that crossing over occurs during synapsis in meiosis but not in mitosis.
Solution
The correct answer is (B) crossing over during synapsis.
In meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up during prophase I, and during this pairing (synapsis), segments of DNA are exchanged through a process called crossing over. This process does not occur in mitosis, which is one of the key differences between the two types of cell division.
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One of the key differences between mitosis and meiosis is the process of crossing over during synapsis, which occurs only in meiosis. This genetic exchange enhances genetic variation among offspring by allowing homologous chromosomes to exchange segments of DNA, resulting in unique combinations of genes. Mitosis, on the other hand, is focused on producing identical daughter cells, without this shuffling of genetic material.
Another distinction involves the separation of sister chromatids; during anaphase of mitosis, the sister chromatids are pulled apart to opposite poles of the cell, ensuring each new cell receives an identical set of chromosomes. In meiosis, this separation occurs twice: first during meiosis I (where homologous chromosomes are separated), and again during meiosis II (where sister chromatids are separated), contributing to a reduction in chromosome number and further genetic diversity.
