How many chiasmata does each chromosome need for homologs to separate properly in meiosis I?
AAt least ten
BExactly two
CAt least one
DNone at all
Answer & Solution
Correct answer: C. At least one
1. A chiasma is the visible point where a crossover has taken place.
2. After the synaptonemal complex breaks down, chiasmata are what still hold the homologs together.
3. At least one per chromosome is required for the pair to separate correctly.
4. The number varies with species and chromosome length and can reach as many as 25.
5. None at all would leave the pair unlinked and separation would go wrong.
_Source: OpenStax Biology 1e (CC BY 4.0), Chs 10 and 11, section 11.1 The Process of Meiosis_
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