In sexual reproduction, the variation among offspring, and the fact that they are genetically different from their parents, is due to which of the following?
a) random alignment of homologues during meiosis 1
b) crossing over
c) random process of fertilization
d) all of the above contribute to genetic variability in sexual reporduction
i think it would be all of the above but i'm really not sure. please help! thank you to anybody that answers!!
We don't have a biology tutor here at present. All the tutors are volunteers, and nobody with a biology background is volunteering. My "gut" tells me you are right, but I'm no expert. This should help:
http://b4fa.org/bioscience-in-brief/introduction-genes-crops/how-does-sexual-reproduction-generate-genetic-variation/
You are absolutely correct! The correct answer is d) all of the above contribute to genetic variability in sexual reproduction.
Explanation:
The variation among offspring and their genetic differences from their parents in sexual reproduction are a result of several processes working together.
a) Random alignment of homologues during meiosis I: During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes pair up and align randomly along the cell's equator. This random alignment results in different combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes being passed on to the offspring.
b) Crossing over: Crossing over occurs during meiosis I, where sections of homologous chromosomes are exchanged, resulting in the exchange of genetic material between maternal and paternal chromosomes. This process further increases genetic variability among offspring.
c) Random process of fertilization: During sexual reproduction, the union of sperm and egg is a random process. Any one sperm can fertilize any one egg, resulting in different combinations of genetic material from the parents. This randomness contributes to the genetic variation among the offspring.
Therefore, all of these processes - random alignment of homologues during meiosis I, crossing over, and the random process of fertilization - work together to contribute to the genetic variability seen in sexual reproduction.