Question

question 7.
a scientist conducted a study of an organism and found that its body cells contained 40 chromosomes. these cells were cultured in the laboratory and cell division was observed. what difference, if any, would
the scientist expect to observe between body cell division and sex cell division in the organism?
a. ◯ body cells divide by meiosis and sex cells divide by mitosis.

b. ◯ body cells divide by mitosis and sex cells divide by meiosis.

c. ◯ there is no difference, body cells and sex cells both divide by meiosis

d. ◯ there is no difference, body cells and sex cells both divide by mitosis

Explanation:

To solve this, we recall cell division types: Mitosis is for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction (body cells, producing identical cells with same chromosome number). Meiosis is for sexual reproduction (sex cells/gametes), producing cells with half the chromosome number. Body cells (somatic) divide by mitosis; sex cells (gametes) form via meiosis. So option B is correct as it matches this knowledge.

Answer:

B. Body cells divide by mitosis and sex cells divide by meiosis.