Question

Choose the correct statement regarding chromosomes.

Statement 1: The number of chromosomes in parents and offsprings of a particular species remains constant.

Statement 2: Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half.

• A. Statement 1 is correct
• B. Statement 2 is correct
• C. Both the statements are correct
• D. Both the statements are incorrect

Answer 1

The correct option is C Both the statements are correct

$\bullet$ During meiosis or reduction division, a diploid parent cell, which has two copies of each chromosome, undergoes division to produce 4 haploid cells, each having a single set of chromosomes. Each haploid cell becomes a gamete (either sperm or ovum).
$\bullet$ During fertilisation, the sperm and ovum fuse to form a zygote. The zygote is a diploid cell having, one set of chromosome from mother and one set from the father. Hence, the number of chromosomes in the child remains constant as their parents.