Question

1. all human body cells contain 46 chromosomes. however, sperm cells in men and egg cells in women have only 23 chromosomes. this is due to meiosis. how does meiosis accomplish a reduction in chromosomal number?

Explanation:

Meiosis is a type of cell - division with two rounds of division (meiosis I and meiosis II). In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes pair up and then separate, reducing the chromosome number by half. In meiosis II, sister chromatids separate, but the chromosome number remains the same as after meiosis I. So, starting from a diploid cell with 46 chromosomes, meiosis results in haploid gametes (sperm and egg) with 23 chromosomes.

Answer:

Meiosis accomplishes the reduction in chromosomal number through two rounds of cell division. In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes separate, halving the chromosome number from diploid (46) to haploid (23). Meiosis II then separates sister chromatids without changing the chromosome number.