Question

Meiosis occurs in a series of different phases and creates genetically unique reproductive cells. mc012-1.jpg Which process helps make meiotic cells genetically different and occurs during prophase I, but not during prophase II?

Answer 1

In prophase I of meiosis, a process called ‘Crossing over’ occurs which makes the cells to vary genetically.

Detailed process that occurs in Prophase I of Meosis is as follows:

• Mother donates a homologous chromosome and also father donates a homologous chromosome.
• These chromosomes pair to form tetrad. This process is named as ‘Synapsis’.
• In Chaisma, the paternal and maternal chromosomes exchange their segments after crossing over and hence become genetically unique .

Answer 2

CROSSING OVER makes the cell to vary genetically.

Crossing over is the exchange of genes between two chromosomes, resulting in non-identical chromatids that comprise the genetic material of gametes (sperm and eggs). This process results in the millions of sperm or eggs that are produced by an organism, each being different from one another. In other words, every single sperm or egg cell in your body is completely unique.