Question

which of these statements is correct about mitosis & meiosis in humans?
a) mitosis makes haploid gametes; meiosis makes diploid body cells
b) mitosis makes diploid gametes; meiosis makes haploid body cells
c) meiosis makes haploid gametes; mitosis makes diploid body cells
d) meiosis makes diploid gametes; mitosis makes haploid body cells
q1

Explanation:

To solve this, we recall the roles of mitosis and meiosis:

• Mitosis is for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction. It produces diploid (2n) body cells (somatic cells) that are genetically identical to the parent cell.
• Meiosis is for sexual reproduction. It produces haploid (n) gametes (sperm and egg cells) that have half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Now let's analyze each option:

• Option A: Mitosis does not make gametes (gametes are made by meiosis), and meiosis does not make diploid body cells (mitosis does). Eliminate A.
• Option B: Mitosis does not make gametes, and meiosis does not make body cells (mitosis does). Also, gametes are haploid, not diploid, and body cells are diploid, not haploid. Eliminate B.
• Option C: Meiosis makes haploid gametes (correct, as gametes need half the chromosomes for fertilization), and mitosis makes diploid body cells (correct, as body cells need the full set of chromosomes for normal function). This matches our understanding.
• Option D: Meiosis makes haploid, not diploid, gametes, and mitosis makes diploid, not haploid, body cells. Eliminate D.

Answer:

C. Meiosis makes haploid gametes; mitosis makes diploid body cells