Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Practice

Meiosis is characterized by how many rounds of division?

1. One

2. Two

3. Three

4. Four

The correct answer is: Two

Meiosis is characterized by two rounds of division, known as meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are separated, reducing the chromosome number by half and resulting in two daughter cells. Each of these daughter cells then undergoes meiosis II, where the sister chromatids are separated, leading to a total of four haploid cells at the end of the process. This reduction in chromosome number is critical for sexual reproduction, as it ensures that when fertilization occurs, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes. The two rounds of division during meiosis are essential for generating genetic diversity through processes such as crossing over and independent assortment, contributing to the variation seen in sexually reproducing organisms.