A diploid cell contains three pairs of homologous chromosomes designated C1 and C2, M1 and M2, and S1 and S2. No crossing over occurs.

a. What combinations of chromosomes are possible in daughter cells following mitosis?

b. What combinations of chromosomes are possible in cells undergoing the first meiotic metaphase?

c. What combinations of chromosomes are possible in haploid cells following both divisions of meiosis?

A) Mitosis is a cell division that results in a two identical daughter cells. That means that daughter cell will have the same genetic information as their mother cell. Thus, they will have the same combination of chromosomes as the mother cell - C1 and C2, M1 and M2, and S1 and S2.

B) Meiosis is a cell division that results in a reduction of a number of chromosomes by half. So, if the mother cell is diploid, daughter cells will be haploid. After meiosis I, the number of chromosomes is reduced. So, in our example there are 3 pairs of homologous chromosomes. Homologous chromosomes will split up after meiotic metaphase I. There are 8 different combinations of chromosomes:

C1-M1-S1, C1-M1-S2, C1-M2-S1, C1-M2-S2, C2-M1-S1, C2-M1-S2, C2-M2-S1, C2-M2-S2

C) After both meiotic divisions, there will be 4 daughter cells that are haploid. After meiosis I, we have 8 different combinations of chromosomes that can be in two daughter cells. These two cells will enter meiosis II which is the same as mitotic division. So, each of these two cells will have identical two daughter cells. Thus, it will be the same combination of chromosomes as is present in the cells after the first meiotic division.