A diploid cell contains three pairs of homologous chromosomes designated C1 and C2, M1 and M2, and S1 and S2. No crossing over occurs. What combinations of chromosomes are possible in (a) daughter cells following mitosis, (b) cells undergoing the first meiotic metaphase, (c) haploid cells following both divisions of meiosis?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the process: Mitosis results in two identical daughter cells, while meiosis results in four genetically diverse haploid cells.
2. For mitosis (a), recognize that each daughter cell will have the same set of chromosomes as the parent cell, so the combinations will be C1, C2, M1, M2, S1, S2 in each daughter cell.
3. For the first meiotic metaphase (b), understand that homologous chromosomes pair up, so the combinations will be pairs: (C1, C2), (M1, M2), (S1, S2).
4. For haploid cells after meiosis (c), consider that each cell will receive one chromosome from each homologous pair, leading to combinations like C1M1S1, C1M1S2, C1M2S1, etc.
5. Calculate the total number of combinations for haploid cells by considering each chromosome pair independently, resulting in 2^3 = 8 possible combinations.

Key Concepts

Diploid and Haploid Cells

Diploid cells contain two complete sets of chromosomes, one from each parent, represented as 2n. In this case, the diploid cell has three pairs of homologous chromosomes. Haploid cells, on the other hand, have only one set of chromosomes (n), which is produced during meiosis. Understanding the difference between these cell types is crucial for analyzing the outcomes of mitosis and meiosis.

Mitosis vs. Meiosis

Mitosis is a process of cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells, maintaining the diploid chromosome number. In contrast, meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four genetically diverse haploid cells. Recognizing these processes is essential for determining the combinations of chromosomes in daughter cells and during meiotic stages.

Homologous Chromosomes

Homologous chromosomes are pairs of chromosomes that have the same structure and gene sequence but may carry different alleles. In the context of the question, the pairs C1 and C2, M1 and M2, and S1 and S2 represent homologous chromosomes. Understanding how these pairs segregate during mitosis and meiosis is key to predicting the combinations of chromosomes in the resulting cells.