Given below are two statements:

**Statement I:** Chromosomes are fully condensed at the end of prophase I.

**Statement II:** Meiosis I resembles mitosis.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Question

Given below are two statements:

**Statement I:** Chromosomes are fully condensed at the end of prophase I.

**Statement II:** Meiosis I resembles mitosis.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Accepted Answer

D. 1. To check Statement I, recall the sub-stages of prophase I.

Given that prophase I of meiosis has five sub-stages — leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene and diakinesis — the chromosomes keep condensing progressively through these stages.

2. Identify the last sub-stage of prophase I.

Since **diakinesis** is the final sub-stage of prophase I, this is the point where chromosome condensation is completed and the spindle apparatus is assembled to prepare homologous chromosomes for separation.

Therefore, by the end of prophase I, the chromosomes are indeed fully condensed, so **Statement I is correct**.

3. To check Statement II, recall which division of meiosis resembles mitosis.

Given that mitosis is an equational division (sister chromatids separate, chromosome number stays the same), and Meiosis I is a **reductional** division (homologous chromosomes separate, chromosome number is halved), Meiosis I does not resemble mitosis.

Hence, it is **Meiosis II**, not Meiosis I, that resembles mitosis because it is also equational in nature.

So, **Statement II is false**.

4. Combine both conclusions.

Since Statement I is correct and Statement II is false, the correct match is **Option D**.

Given below are two statements: Statement I: Chromosomes are fully condensed at the end of prophase I. Statement II: Meiosis I resembles mitosis. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

Given below are two statements:

Statement I: Chromosomes are fully condensed at the end of prophase I.

Statement II: Meiosis I resembles mitosis.

In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below: