Meiosis occurs in :

Options

A. endosperm cells
B. intercalary meristems
C. apical meristems
D. spore mother cells

Answer

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Meiosis**: Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells in animals, spores in plants). It consists of two sequential divisions: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.

2. **Identifying the Parent Cell**: The process begins with a diploid parent cell, which contains two sets of chromosomes. This parent cell undergoes Meiosis I, resulting in two haploid daughter cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes.

3. **Further Division**: These two haploid daughter cells then undergo Meiosis II, leading to the formation of four haploid daughter cells. Each of these cells has a unique genetic makeup due to the processes of crossing over and independent assortment that occur during meiosis.

4. **Identifying the Location of Meiosis**: Meiosis occurs in specific types of cells. In plants, meiosis occurs in spore mother cells (also known as microspore mother cells or megaspore mother cells), which are responsible for producing spores. Spores can develop into gametes.

5. **Evaluating the Options**: The options provided include endosperm cells, intercalary meristems, apical meristems, and spore mother cells. Among these, only spore mother cells are directly involved in the process of meiosis to produce spores.

6. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the correct answer to the question "Meiosis occurs in:" is **spore mother cells**.

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