Which type of cell division results in offspring that have different genetic information from the parent?

The type of cell division that results in offspring with different genetic information from the parent is called meiosis. Meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms, leading to the production of gametes—sperm and egg cells in animals, and pollen and ovule in plants. During meiosis, a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. These cells are haploid, meaning they have one set of chromosomes, as opposed to the diploid cells of the parents, which contain two sets of chromosomes—one from each parent.

During meiosis, there are several mechanisms that contribute to the genetic diversity of the resulting gametes:

1. Crossing over: This occurs during prophase I of meiosis when homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange segments of their genetic material. This results in a new combination of genes on each chromosome.

2. Independent assortment: During metaphase I, the way in which different pairs of chromosomes align and separate is random. This means the combination of chromosomes that end up in each gamete is unique.

3. Random fertilization: After meiosis, the random fusion of gametes from two different parents during fertilization means that each offspring has a unique set of genetic information, different from both parents.

These processes ensure that sexual reproduction produces offspring with varied genetic profiles, which contributes to the genetic diversity within a population.

Extra: Understanding meiosis is essential to grasp the fundamentals of genetics and heredity. In contrast to meiosis, another form of cell division is mitosis, which results in the production of two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell, maintaining the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Mitotic division is used for growth and repair in multicellular organisms, as well as asexual reproduction in some organisms. Meiosis, however, is specifically for sexual reproduction and is the key driver behind the variation seen in sexually reproduced species. Genetic diversity is important for the survival of species, as it can enhance the ability of populations to adapt to changing environments and resist diseases. Indeed, the process of evolution is very much dependent on genetic variation arising from meiotic division.