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Fertility
Chapter 7, Problem 10

After telophase I of meiosis, each daughter cell is                   . a. diploid, and the chromosomes are composed of one double-stranded DNA molecule; b. diploid, and the chromosomes are composed of two sister chromatids; c. haploid, and the chromosomes are composed of one double-stranded DNA molecule; d. haploid, and the chromosomes are composed of two sister chromatids

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1
Understand the process of meiosis, particularly the events of telophase I. During meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two rounds of cell division but only one round of DNA replication.
Recognize that after telophase I, the cell has completed the first meiotic division, which reduces the chromosome number by half. This is crucial for understanding the ploidy of the daughter cells.
Identify the structure of the chromosomes after telophase I. Recall that each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids that are still joined together.
Determine the ploidy of the daughter cells after telophase I. Since the chromosome number is halved, the cells are haploid.
Match the chromosome structure and ploidy to the correct answer choice. The correct choice should state that the cells are haploid and each chromosome is composed of two sister chromatids.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Meiosis

Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four haploid daughter cells. It consists of two sequential divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, while meiosis II separates sister chromatids. This process is essential for sexual reproduction, as it produces gametes with genetic diversity.
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Haploid vs. Diploid

Haploid (n) cells contain one set of chromosomes, while diploid (2n) cells have two sets. In humans, somatic cells are diploid, containing 46 chromosomes, whereas gametes (sperm and egg) are haploid, containing 23 chromosomes. After meiosis I, the resulting daughter cells are haploid, as they have half the original chromosome number, which is crucial for maintaining chromosome number across generations during fertilization.
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Sister Chromatids

Sister chromatids are identical copies of a single chromosome, formed during DNA replication. Each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids joined at a region called the centromere. During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, but sister chromatids remain together until meiosis II. Understanding the structure and behavior of sister chromatids is vital for grasping how genetic material is distributed during cell division.
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