How do the genetic contents of cells resulting from mitosis and meiosis differ?

• A. Cells resulting from mitosis are genetically diverse, while cells resulting from meiosis are genetically identical to the parent cell.
• B. Both mitosis and meiosis result in cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell.
• C. Cells resulting from mitosis have half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell, while cells resulting from meiosis are genetically identical to the parent cell.
• D. Cells resulting from mitosis are genetically identical to the parent cell, while cells resulting from meiosis have half the number of chromosomes and are genetically diverse.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of mitosis and meiosis: Mitosis is a process of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth. Meiosis, on the other hand, is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four haploid cells, each genetically distinct from the parent cell.
2. Examine the genetic content of cells resulting from mitosis: In mitosis, the daughter cells are genetically identical to the parent cell. This is because mitosis involves a single round of division following DNA replication, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the parent cell's chromosomes.
3. Analyze the genetic content of cells resulting from meiosis: Meiosis involves two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II) and results in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This reduction in chromosome number is crucial for sexual reproduction, allowing for genetic diversity through processes like crossing over and independent assortment.
4. Compare the outcomes of mitosis and meiosis: Mitosis results in two genetically identical diploid cells, while meiosis results in four genetically diverse haploid cells. The genetic diversity in meiosis is due to the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during crossing over and the random assortment of chromosomes.
5. Conclude with the correct answer: Cells resulting from mitosis are genetically identical to the parent cell, while cells resulting from meiosis have half the number of chromosomes and are genetically diverse.