Four daughter cells obtained from a single meiosis differ from one another because of

Options

A. Crossing over
B. Independent assortment
C. Change in chromosome number
D. Both A and B

Answer

To answer the question, "Four daughter cells obtained from a single meiosis differ from one another because of," we need to analyze the processes involved in meiosis that lead to genetic variation among the daughter cells.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Meiosis**:
- Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically distinct daughter cells. It consists of two main stages: meiosis I and meiosis II.

2. **Crossing Over**:
- During prophase I of meiosis, homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange segments of genetic material in a process called crossing over. This results in new combinations of alleles on each chromosome, contributing to genetic diversity among the daughter cells.

3. **Independent Assortment**:
- During metaphase I, the way in which different pairs of homologous chromosomes align and separate is random. This is known as independent assortment. Each pair of chromosomes segregates independently of the others, leading to a variety of combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes in the daughter cells.

4. **Conclusion**:
- The differences among the four daughter cells obtained from a single meiosis are primarily due to crossing over and independent assortment. Both processes contribute to genetic variation, making the daughter cells genetically distinct from one another.

### Final Answer:
The four daughter cells obtained from a single meiosis differ from one another because of **crossing over and independent assortment**.

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