Question

1. meiosis causes the offspring of organisms that have sexually reproduced to be genetically diverse. this is because meiosis produces —

options:

• genetically unique cells that will decrease variation in a population.
• genetically identical cells that will not change the amount of variation in a population.
• genetically unique cells that will increase variation in a population.
• genetically identical cells that will decrease variation in a population.

Explanation:

Meiosis is a type of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms. During meiosis, processes like crossing - over and independent assortment lead to the production of gametes (sex cells) that are genetically unique. When these genetically unique gametes fuse during fertilization, the offspring inherit a combination of genes from both parents, which increases genetic variation in the population.

Let's analyze each option:

• Option 1: Says meiosis produces genetically unique cells that will decrease variation in a population. But genetically unique cells should increase variation, not decrease it. So this is incorrect.
• Option 2: Meiosis produces genetically unique cells (gametes) due to crossing - over and independent assortment. These unique gametes, when involved in reproduction, increase the genetic variation in the population. This option is correct.
• Option 3: Meiosis does not produce genetically identical cells. Mitosis produces genetically identical cells. Also, the idea that these cells do not change the amount of variation is wrong as meiosis increases variation. So this is incorrect.
• Option 4: Meiosis produces genetically identical cells is wrong. Mitosis is for producing identical cells. So this option is incorrect.

Answer:

B. genetically unique cells that will increase variation in a population. (assuming the second option from the left is labeled B, if the original options have labels like A, B, C, D, adjust the label according to the actual layout. Since the user's image shows the correct option as the one with "genetically unique cells that will increase variation in a population", we identify that option as the correct one.)