Question

During the production of gametes, the chromosomes of a cell have condensed, and the chromatids of homologous chromosomes are crossing over to form new allele combinations. Which of the following is the best conclusion you can make about the life cycle of this cell?
The cell will separate into two daughter cells next, and cytokinesis will occur.

The cell is in prophase I of meiosis and will enter metaphase I next.

The cell will make a copy of each chromosome in order to form diploid daughter cells.

The cell is in interphase II of meiosis and will enter prophase II next.

Answer 1

Answer:

The correct answer will be the cell is in prophase I of meiosis and will enter metaphase I next.

Explanation:

Meiosis is a type of cell division which is involved in the formation of haploid gametes.

During meiosis the division of the genetic material is markedly observed and based on this meiosis is divided into 4 phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

During prophase: the chromatin structure of DNA starts condensing to form chromatids which attaches to homologous chromatids and are known as sister chromatids. These sister chromatids exchange their genetic material via a process called called recombination or crossing over which takes place during pachytene stage of prophase I. After crossing over it is proceeded by the next stage that is metaphase I in which chromosomes gets aligned at the center of the cell.

Thus, the cell is in prophase I of meiosis and will enter metaphase I next is the correct answer.

Answer 2

Answer:

The cell is in prophase I of meiosis and will enter metaphase I next

Explanation:

The life cycle of the cell has 2 main phases;

• the interphase
• the m phase

Depending on the type of cell, the interphase include the quiescence, cell development/growth, DNA synthesis, and protein synthesis phase while the m phase is either meiotic (for sex cells) or mitotic (for vegetative cells). Meiotic cell division leads to the production of gametes while mitotic cell division leads to the production of replica daughter cells.

Meiotic cell division is a 2-stage cell division with each stage divided to prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. The first stage is referred to as meiosis I and the second stage meiosis II. On a more simpler note, meiosis can be viewed as consisting of six main sub-stages including prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I, telophase I, prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, and telophase II.

During prophase I, the nuclear materials in a cell condenses and becomes visible as threads. This stage is sometimes referred to as leptotene or leptonema stage.

Thereafter, homologous chromosomes start pairing up to form a bivalent/tetrad. Paired homologous chromosomes exchange chromosomal segments between non-sister chromatids in a process known as crossing over or genetic recombination at the pachynema stage.

Zygonema/zygotene and diplonema/diplotene stages quickly follow during which paired chromosomes disengage except at the point of crossing over.

Prophase I is completed with a process of diakiness before the cell exits to metaphase I.

Thus, at the end of prophase I, chromosomes have condensed, crossing over has taken place and the cell moves to metaphase I