OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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Which term describes the cells produced as a result of meiosis?

Somatic cells
Diploid cells
Gametes
Haploid cells

The correct answer is: Gametes

The term that best describes the cells produced as a result of meiosis is "gametes." Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, leading to the production of reproductive cells. In humans and many other organisms, these cells are known as gametes, which include sperm in males and eggs in females. Each gamete contains a single set of chromosomes, which is crucial for sexual reproduction because, when two gametes unite during fertilization, they restore the diploid number of chromosomes in the resulting zygote. While "haploid cells" is also a correct descriptor of gametes, it specifically refers to the number of chromosome sets present in the cells produced by meiosis. In contrast, the term "gametes" encompasses both the structure and function of these reproductive cells, highlighting their role in reproduction. Similarly, "somatic cells" are all body cells excluding gametes and are diploid, which is the opposite of what meiosis produces. Thus, "gametes" is the most precise term to describe the outcome of meiosis.