Question

Why do the resulting offsprings not have twice as many chromosomes as their parents?

Answer 1

Chromosomes:

1. Chromosomes are thread-like structures that carry tightly coiled DNA and contain the genetic information of the organism.
2. Chromosome number refers to the number of chromosomes present in a cell and is consistent for a species.
3. The number of chromosomes in a somatic cell is diploid (2n) while sex gametes are haploid (1n).
4. The sex gametes are formed by the process of meiosis.
5. Meiosis produces four daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes present in the parent cell.
6. Meiosis is referred to as reductional division as the number of chromosomes is halved post the first meiotic division.
7. Thus, when gametes unite to generate an embryo, it doesn't contain twice the number of chromosomes of the parent cells.