Question 7

Meiosis creates half the number of chromosomes as mitosis.

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in gametes with a single set of chromosomes, whereas mitosis results in two identical daughter cells with the same chromosome number as the original cell.

A) Meiosis creates half the number of chromosomes as mitosis

This statement is correct as meiosis involves two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II) and results in four non-identical daughter cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. This reduction is essential for maintaining the chromosome number across generations during sexual reproduction.

B) Meiosis only happens in stem cells

This statement is incorrect. Meiosis does not occur in stem cells; it specifically takes place in germ cells to produce gametes (sperm and eggs). Stem cells can undergo mitosis to generate different cell types but do not perform meiosis.

C) Meiosis occurs with RNA, and mitosis occurs with DNA

This statement is false. Both meiosis and mitosis involve the division of cells that contain DNA, not RNA. The processes are fundamentally about the replication and separation of DNA during cell division, regardless of the type.

D) Meiosis occurs in all cells, but some of those cells choose to go through meiosis

This statement is incorrect. Meiosis occurs only in specific cells known as germ cells, which are destined to become gametes. Not all cells undergo meiosis; it is a specialized process that does not apply to somatic cells.

Conclusion

Option A is definitively correct as it accurately describes the fundamental difference between meiosis and mitosis regarding chromosome number reduction. All other options fail to accurately represent the processes and contexts of meiosis and mitosis, highlighting that meiosis is not a universal process occurring in all cells, nor does it involve RNA instead of DNA.