Why do cells used in sexual reproduction need to have fewer chromosomes?
to increase diversity by creating new chromosomes from scratch
to maintain the number of chromosomes specific to the species
to decrease the number of chromosomes in the next generation
to eliminate the chromosomes that prevent asexual reproduction
B. to maintain the number of chromosomes specific to the species is correct!!! I took the test :D
I don't know if it requires fewer chromosomes, but sexual reproduction does maintain the number of chromosomes specific to the species.
Cells used in sexual reproduction need to have fewer chromosomes in order to maintain the number of chromosomes specific to the species. When two cells with the same number of chromosomes (a set from each parent) come together during fertilization, the resulting offspring will have the correct number of chromosomes for that species. It is important for the number of chromosomes to remain consistent across generations to ensure proper development and functioning of offspring.
Cells used in sexual reproduction need to have fewer chromosomes to maintain the number of chromosomes specific to the species.
To understand why cells in sexual reproduction need to have fewer chromosomes, let's first understand what happens during sexual reproduction. Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two sex cells, also known as gametes, to form a new organism. Each parent contributes one set of chromosomes to the offspring through their respective gametes.
Gametes are formed through a process called meiosis. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in each cell by half. In this process, a diploid cell, which contains two sets of chromosomes (one set from each parent), undergoes two rounds of division, resulting in four haploid cells, each with half the number of chromosomes. These haploid cells are the gametes used in sexual reproduction.
The purpose of reducing the number of chromosomes is to ensure that the offspring receives the correct number of chromosomes for their species. Each species has a specific number of chromosomes that is necessary for proper development and functioning. If gametes did not undergo meiosis to halve the number of chromosomes, the chromosome number would double with each generation, leading to an imbalance and potential issues in the offspring.
Therefore, cells used in sexual reproduction need to have fewer chromosomes to maintain the correct number of chromosomes specific to the species and facilitate the proper development of the offspring.