National League for Nursing (NLN PAX) Practice Exam

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What is the result of meiotic division in terms of chromosome number?

Cells with double the chromosome number
Cells with the usual number of chromosomes
Cells with half the usual number of chromosomes
Cells with varying chromosome numbers

The correct answer is: Cells with half the usual number of chromosomes

Meiotic division results in gametes (sperm and egg cells) that have half the usual number of chromosomes found in somatic cells. In humans, for instance, somatic cells contain 46 chromosomes (23 pairs), while meiotic division reduces this number to 23 chromosomes in each gamete. This reduction is essential for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when gametes unite during fertilization, the resulting zygote will again have the full complement of chromosomes (46 in total). The process of meiosis includes two rounds of division: meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, leading to a halving of the chromosome number, while meiosis II resembles mitotic division, where sister chromatids are separated, but the overall chromosome count remains reduced compared to the original cell. This halving of chromosome number maintains genetic stability across generations and contributes to genetic diversity through mechanisms like crossing over and independent assortment.