Which process leads to genetic diversity during meiosis?

Which process leads to genetic diversity during meiosis?

• A. Independent assortment
• B. DNA replication
• C. Cellular respiration
• D. Transcription

Answer: (A)

The process that leads to genetic diversity during meiosis is independent assortment. During meiosis, specifically in metaphase I, homologous chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate in pairs. The orientation of each pair is random, leading to various combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes being distributed to the gametes. This means that each gamete receives a mix of chromosomes, creating genetic variation among the offspring. Independent assortment is fundamental in increasing genetic diversity because it allows different combinations of alleles to be passed on to the next generation. For instance, if an organism has two pairs of chromosomes, the way those pairs line up can lead to four different combinations of alleles in the resulting gametes. Other processes such as DNA replication, cellular respiration, and transcription do not contribute to genetic diversity in the context of meiosis. DNA replication is a necessary step to ensure that each new cell receives a full set of genetic information but does not create diversity on its own. Cellular respiration is involved in energy production, and transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template. Neither of these processes directly influences the genetic variation that arises specifically during meiosis.

The process that leads to genetic diversity during meiosis is independent assortment. During meiosis, specifically in metaphase I, homologous chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate in pairs. The orientation of each pair is random, leading to various combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes being distributed to the gametes. This means that each gamete receives a mix of chromosomes, creating genetic variation among the offspring.

Independent assortment is fundamental in increasing genetic diversity because it allows different combinations of alleles to be passed on to the next generation. For instance, if an organism has two pairs of chromosomes, the way those pairs line up can lead to four different combinations of alleles in the resulting gametes.

Other processes such as DNA replication, cellular respiration, and transcription do not contribute to genetic diversity in the context of meiosis. DNA replication is a necessary step to ensure that each new cell receives a full set of genetic information but does not create diversity on its own. Cellular respiration is involved in energy production, and transcription is the process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template. Neither of these processes directly influences the genetic variation that arises specifically during meiosis.