AQA GCSE Biology

Meiosis

AQA GCSE Biology revision on Meiosis. Aligned to the AQA GCSE Biology 8461 specification. This bank has 15 practice questions on this topic.

Sample questions (3 of 15)

Question 1

What is the primary biological purpose of meiosis in human reproduction?
- A) To produce identical cells
- B) To create unique gametes
- C) To repair damaged tissues
- D) To allow rapid cell growth
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Answer: To create unique gametes

Meiosis reduces the chromosome number by half to create gametes, such as sperm and egg cells. This process ensures that when fertilisation occurs, the resulting zygote has the correct diploid number of chromosomes.
Question 2

How many times does the cell divide during the complete process of meiosis?
- A) Exactly one single time
- B) A total of two divisions
- C) Three separate divisions
- D) Four distinct divisions
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Answer: A total of two divisions

Unlike mitosis, which consists of one division, meiosis requires two rounds of division to reduce the chromosome count. This results in four daughter cells, each containing half the genetic material of the parent cell.
Question 3

What is the specific name for the type of cell produced by meiosis that contains only one set of chromosomes?

Show answer

Answer: haploid

In human meiosis, the parent cell is diploid (46 chromosomes). After two divisions, the resulting gametes are haploid, meaning they contain 23 chromosomes. This ensures the correct number is restored upon fusion.

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12 more questions on Meiosis — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole Biology spec.

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