Which of the following statements about meiosis is false?

Options

A. Haploid cells cannot divide meiotically
B. DNA replication does not occur during interkinesis
C. Assortment of homologous chromosomes on the equatorial plate during metaphase I is independent
D. Of the four cells produced by meiosis, none are genetically identical to the parent cells but two are identical to each other

Answer

To determine which statement about meiosis is false, we need to analyze the key characteristics of meiosis and the outcomes it produces. Here’s a step-by-step breakdown of the process:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Meiosis**: Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the formation of four haploid cells from one diploid cell. This process is crucial for sexual reproduction.

2. **Phases of Meiosis**: Meiosis consists of two main stages: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
- **Meiosis I**: Homologous chromosomes are separated, and crossing over occurs, leading to genetic recombination.
- **Meiosis II**: Similar to mitosis, the sister chromatids are separated.

3. **Outcome of Meiosis**: At the end of meiosis, four haploid cells are produced. These cells are genetically diverse due to the crossing over and independent assortment of chromosomes.

4. **Analyzing Statements**: We need to evaluate the statements regarding the genetic identity of the cells produced:
- **Statement 1**: "Four cells produced by meiosis are genetically identical to the parent cell."
- This is false because the cells are haploid and genetically varied.
- **Statement 2**: "Two cells are identical to each other."
- This is also false because due to crossing over, all four cells are genetically different.
- **Statement 3**: "None of the cells are genetically identical to the parent cell."
- This is true, as the cells are haploid and differ from the diploid parent.
- **Statement 4**: "None of the four cells produced by meiosis are genetically identical to each other."
- This is true, as crossing over ensures genetic variation.

5. **Identifying the False Statement**: After evaluating the statements, the false statement is that "two cells are identical to each other." In reality, all four cells produced by meiosis are genetically distinct due to crossing over and independent assortment.

### Conclusion:
The false statement about meiosis is that "two cells are identical to each other." Therefore, the answer is option number 4.

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