Which two stages of meiosis are most responsible for the genetic variation observed within a species?

• A. Anaphase II and Telophase II
• B. Anaphase I and Telophase I
• C. Prophase I and Metaphase I
• D. Prophase II and Metaphase II

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that meiosis 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. Recognize that genetic variation in meiosis is primarily introduced during Prophase I and Metaphase I.
3. During Prophase I, homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange segments in a process called crossing over, which increases genetic diversity.
4. In Metaphase I, the homologous chromosome pairs align at the metaphase plate randomly, leading to independent assortment, which further contributes to genetic variation.
5. These processes ensure that the gametes produced have different combinations of genes, contributing to the genetic variation observed within a species.