Multiple Choice
In most animals, where does meiosis primarily take place?
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9. Mitosis and Meiosis
Meiosis
Multiple Choice
In sexually reproducing animals, what type of cells undergo meiosis to produce gametes?
A
Red blood cells circulating in the bloodstream
B
Germline cells in the gonads (cells that give rise to eggs or sperm)
C
Somatic body cells (e.g., skin or muscle cells)
D
Mature gametes (sperm or eggs) themselves
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand the difference between somatic cells and germline cells: Somatic cells make up most of the body tissues and organs, while germline cells are specialized cells that give rise to gametes.
Recall that meiosis is a special type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing haploid cells (gametes) from diploid cells.
Identify that meiosis occurs only in germline cells located in the gonads (ovaries in females and testes in males), as these cells are responsible for producing eggs and sperm.
Recognize that red blood cells and other somatic cells do not undergo meiosis; red blood cells are typically anucleate and do not divide, and somatic cells divide by mitosis.
Conclude that mature gametes themselves do not undergo meiosis; they are the products of meiosis, so the correct cells undergoing meiosis are the germline cells in the gonads.
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