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Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Meiosis Practice Questions

20 free Meiosis practice questions for the NCERT Biology. Tap an option to answer — you get instant feedback, the correct answer, and a detailed explanation for every question.

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Question 1 of 20 Medium

Which of the following is the most significant characteristic of Meiosis I that distinguishes it from Mitosis?

  1. A Separation of sister chromatids at centromere
  2. B Synapsis of homologous chromosomes
  3. C Replication of DNA in S-phase
  4. D Condensation of chromosomes in prophase

Correct answer: Synapsis of homologous chromosomes

Meiosis I uniquely involves synapsis — the pairing of homologous chromosomes — and crossing over, neither of which occurs in mitosis. This pairing is essential for the reductional division that halves the chromosome number.

Question 2 of 20 Medium

During which sub-stage of Prophase I do chromosomes start pairing together through a process called synapsis?

  1. A Pachytene
  2. B Zygotene
  3. C Leptotene
  4. D Diplotene

Correct answer: Zygotene

In the zygotene stage, homologous chromosomes begin to pair up side-by-side. This association is accompanied by the formation of a complex structure called the synaptonemal complex.

Question 3 of 20 Medium

The process of crossing over, which leads to the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids, occurs during:

  1. A Zygotene
  2. B Pachytene
  3. C Diplotene
  4. D Diakinesis

Correct answer: Pachytene

Crossing over occurs during the pachytene stage of Prophase I. It is an enzyme-mediated process involving the enzyme recombinase, resulting in new combinations of genes.

Question 4 of 20 Medium

X-shaped structures that represent the sites of crossing over after the dissolution of the synaptonemal complex are known as:

  1. A Bivalents
  2. B Tetrads
  3. C Chiasmata
  4. D Centromeres

Correct answer: Chiasmata

Chiasmata become visible during the diplotene stage as the homologous chromosomes start to separate except at the sites where crossing over took place. These X-shaped points are crucial for identifying recombination sites.

Question 5 of 20 Medium

The final stage of meiotic Prophase I, characterized by the terminalisation of chiasmata, is:

  1. A Diakinesis
  2. B Leptotene
  3. C Diplotene
  4. D Pachytene

Correct answer: Diakinesis

Diakinesis is the last stage of Prophase I where chiasmata move towards the ends of chromosomes. During this stage, the nucleolus disappears and the nuclear envelope breaks down.

Question 6 of 20 Medium

During Metaphase I, the bivalents align at the equatorial plate. How do the spindle fibers attach to the chromosomes?

  1. A To the kinetochore of sister chromatids
  2. B To the kinetochore of homologous chromosomes
  3. C To the centromere of non-homologous chromosomes
  4. D To the telomeres of the chromosomes

Correct answer: To the kinetochore of homologous chromosomes

In Metaphase I, microtubules from opposite poles of the spindle attach to the kinetochores of the homologous pairs. This allows the whole chromosome (with both chromatids) to be pulled toward a pole.

Question 7 of 20 Medium

Anaphase I is characterized by the separation of homologous chromosomes while sister chromatids remain associated at their centromeres. This results in:

  1. A Equational division
  2. B Reduction division
  3. C Cytokinesis
  4. D DNA replication

Correct answer: Reduction division

Because homologous pairs separate rather than sister chromatids, the number of chromosomes in the resulting daughter cells is halved. This is why Meiosis I is specifically called reduction division.

Question 8 of 20 Medium

The short stage between Meiosis I and Meiosis II is called:

  1. A Interphase
  2. B Interkinesis
  3. C S-phase synthesis
  4. D Cytokinesis

Correct answer: Interkinesis

Interkinesis is the brief resting gap between Meiosis I and Meiosis II. Unlike interphase, no DNA replication occurs during interkinesis, so each cell enters Meiosis II with haploid chromosomes still consisting of two chromatids.

Question 9 of 20 Medium

Meiosis II is often compared to mitosis because:

  1. A Homologous chromosomes pair and undergo synapsis
  2. B The chromosome number is reduced from 2n to n
  3. C Sister chromatids separate at the centromere
  4. D Crossing over between non-sister chromatids occurs

Correct answer: Sister chromatids separate at the centromere

Meiosis II is an equational division, mirroring mitosis: the centromere of each chromosome splits and sister chromatids move to opposite poles. This ensures each of the four final gametes receives one chromatid from each chromosome.

Question 10 of 20 Medium

How many daughter cells are produced at the end of Meiosis II, and what is their ploidy?

  1. A Two haploid cells
  2. B Four haploid cells
  3. C Two diploid cells
  4. D Four diploid cells

Correct answer: Four haploid cells

Meiosis consists of two rounds of division following a single round of DNA replication. This results in four haploid daughter cells, each genetically distinct from the parent cell.

Question 11 of 20 Medium

Which enzyme is responsible for the process of crossing over?

  1. A DNA Polymerase
  2. B RNA Polymerase
  3. C Recombinase
  4. D Ligase

Correct answer: Recombinase

Crossing over is an enzyme-mediated process. Recombinase facilitates the exchange of genetic segments between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes.

Question 12 of 20 Medium

In which stage do the chromosomes become gradually visible under the light microscope as the first step of Prophase I?

  1. A Leptotene
  2. B Zygotene
  3. C Pachytene
  4. D Diplotene

Correct answer: Leptotene

Leptotene is the first sub-stage of Prophase I. The chromosomes remain as long, thin threads and slowly condense to become visible under a microscope.

Question 13 of 20 Medium

If a cell has 24 chromosomes at G1 phase, how many chromosomes will be present in each cell after Meiosis I?

  1. A 48
  2. B 24
  3. C 12
  4. D 6

Correct answer: 12

Meiosis I is reductional division. The parent cell (2n=24) divides into two daughter cells, each receiving half the number of chromosomes (n=12).

Question 14 of 20 Medium

During Anaphase II, what happens to the sister chromatids?

  1. A They remain attached at the centromere
  2. B They split and move to opposite poles
  3. C They pair with homologous partners
  4. D They undergo crossing over

Correct answer: They split and move to opposite poles

Anaphase II involves the simultaneous splitting of the centromere of each chromosome. This allows the sister chromatids to move toward opposite poles of the cell.

Question 15 of 20 Medium

The complex formed by a pair of synapsed homologous chromosomes is called a:

  1. A Bivalent pair
  2. B Univalent
  3. C Centrosome
  4. D Kinetochore

Correct answer: Bivalent pair

During zygotene, synapsed homologous chromosomes form a bivalent (also called a tetrad because it consists of four chromatids). Each bivalent comprises two chromosomes held together by the synaptonemal complex.

Question 16 of 20 Medium

Which of the following describes the biological significance of meiosis?

  1. A Conservation of chromosome number across generations
  2. B Replacement of dead or damaged somatic cells
  3. C Healing of wounds and tissue repair
  4. D Production of genetically identical clones

Correct answer: Conservation of chromosome number across generations

Meiosis produces haploid gametes, ensuring that fertilization restores the diploid chromosome number. This mechanism conserves the species-specific chromosome number across generations. Meiosis also generates genetic diversity through crossing over and independent assortment.

Question 17 of 20 Medium

At which stage of Meiosis I do the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear?

  1. A Telophase I
  2. B Anaphase I
  3. C Diakinesis
  4. D Pachytene

Correct answer: Diakinesis

By the end of diakinesis (the final stage of Prophase I), the nucleolus disappears and the nuclear envelope breaks down. This prepares the cell for Metaphase I.

Question 18 of 20 Medium

In oocytes of some vertebrates, which stage can last for months or years?

  1. A Leptotene
  2. B Zygotene
  3. C Diplotene
  4. D Diakinesis

Correct answer: Diplotene

In many vertebrate oocytes, the meiotic process is suspended at the diplotene stage. This prolonged 'dictyotene' phase allows for significant cell growth and yolk accumulation.

Question 19 of 20 Medium

Which of the following represents the correct sequence of sub-stages in Prophase I?

  1. A Leptotene -> Pachytene -> Zygotene -> Diakinesis -> Diplotene
  2. B Leptotene -> Zygotene -> Pachytene -> Diplotene -> Diakinesis
  3. C Zygotene -> Leptotene -> Pachytene -> Diplotene -> Diakinesis
  4. D Pachytene -> Zygotene -> Leptotene -> Diplotene -> Diakinesis

Correct answer: Leptotene -> Zygotene -> Pachytene -> Diplotene -> Diakinesis

The order of stages in Prophase I is Leptotene (visible threads), Zygotene (pairing), Pachytene (crossing over), Diplotene (chiasmata appearance), and Diakinesis (terminalization).

Question 20 of 20 Medium

Meiosis II is necessary because:

  1. A It reduces the chromosome number from diploid to haploid
  2. B It separates sister chromatids left joined after DNA replication
  3. C It allows crossing over to redistribute genetic material again
  4. D It doubles the DNA content so gametes are genetically complete

Correct answer: It separates sister chromatids left joined after DNA replication

After Meiosis I, each cell is haploid but its chromosomes still consist of two sister chromatids. Meiosis II separates these chromatids so each of the four resulting gametes carries a single copy of each chromosome.

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