How are cells formed by mitosis different from those formed by meiosis in terms of chromosome number?

• A. Both mitosis and meiosis result in cells with double the chromosome number of the parent cell.
• B. Cells formed by mitosis and meiosis both have the same chromosome number as the parent cell.
• C. Cells formed by mitosis have half the chromosome number of the parent cell, while cells formed by meiosis have the same chromosome number.
• D. Cells formed by mitosis have the same chromosome number as the parent cell, while cells formed by meiosis have half the chromosome number.

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 genetically identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis, on the other hand, is a process that results in four genetically diverse daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.
2. Examine the chromosome number in mitosis: During mitosis, the parent cell duplicates its chromosomes and then divides once, resulting in two daughter cells. Each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes, maintaining the same chromosome number as the parent cell.
3. Examine the chromosome number in meiosis: Meiosis involves two rounds of cell division, meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, and in meiosis II, sister chromatids are separated. This results in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes compared to the parent cell.
4. Compare the outcomes: Cells formed by mitosis are diploid, meaning they have two sets of chromosomes, just like the parent cell. Cells formed by meiosis are haploid, meaning they have one set of chromosomes, which is half the number of the parent cell.
5. Conclude the differences: The key difference is that mitosis results in daughter cells with the same chromosome number as the parent cell, while meiosis results in daughter cells with half the chromosome number of the parent cell.