Some organisms undergo meiosis to produce gametes that fuse to form a zygote internally without leaving the organism.What is the effect of this process on genetic diversity of the offspring?
A) The offspring would be identical clones of the parent.
B) The offspring could vary from the parent but there would be less genetic variation because this is inbreeding.
C) The offspring would vary from the parent because it would produce different recombinations of each chromosome pair.
D) The offspring would become more and more genetically diverse each generation.
E) None of the choices are correct.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Meiosis and sexual reproduction introduce genetic variation through the independent assortment of chromosomes, crossing over, and random fertilization. While the gametes come from the same organism, meiosis still allows for recombination and shuffling of genetic material, leading to offspring that vary from the parent. However, there may be less genetic variation compared to outcrossing with a different individual.

Some Organisms Undergo Meiosis to Produce Gametes That Fuse to Form