An important function of meiosis is to reduce the chromosome number to exactly half. How is this done? What makes such a process necessary?

How would the mutation of a single chromosome in metaphase 1 of meiosis affect the process of meiosis?  Use a simple cell with two chromosomes, what is the ratio of gametes with the mutation vs without the mutation?

As two students, who will be designated Student J and Student K, were studying together, they argued about the differences between Mitosis and Meiosis (both Meiosis I and Meiosis II). Student J maintained that it if they were looking at very good slides under the microscope and concentrated on Metaphase, it would be possible to tell the difference between the cells undergoing Mitosis, the cells undergoing Meiosis I, and the cells undergoing Meiosis II. Student K said it would be impossible to tell which nuclear division was occurring. Assume there are three unlabeled sets of very good slides of the cells of the common pea plant with one set showing Mitosis, one set showing Meiosis I, and one set showing Meiosis II. To repeat, the slides are unlabeled so the students don’t know which process is occurring in which set. However, the students know that the common pea plant has 14 total chromosomes (or 7 pairs of chromosomes). Explain carefully what Student J would be looking for at the…

What happens to a cell in the absence of meiotic recombination?