Mitosis and meiosis compared
Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.
Ari follows a model animal with 2n = 6. An egg cell and a sperm cell, each made by meiosis, join. How many chromosomes does the joined cell have?
- 9 chromosomes
- 3 chromosomes
- 12 chromosomes
- 6 chromosomes
Read this first
Use this
Sister chromatids in a model cell (model data), 4 rows. Columns: step, what happens. start, 2n = 6, chromosomes copied, so each has 2 sister chromatids. mitosis, sister chromatids separate and each becomes a chromosome. meiosis I, sister chromatids stay joined and the chromosome pairs separate. meiosis II, sister chromatids separate and each becomes a chromosome.
Esme counts the chromatids in each daughter cell of the model cell, after mitosis and after meiosis I. What are the counts?
- 6 after mitosis and 6 after meiosis I
- 3 after mitosis and 3 after meiosis I
- 12 after mitosis and 6 after meiosis I
- 6 after mitosis and 3 after meiosis I
Lab card (model data)
item reading cell line cells that make sperm cells starting cell 2n = 8 divisions 1 cells made 2 chromosomes in each new cell 8 purpose more cells for the line Jun reads the lab card about a cell line that makes sperm cells. Which choice names the division and gives the reason?
- Meiosis, because any dividing animal cell in that line uses meiosis
- Meiosis, because 2 cells were made from the sperm-making line
- Mitosis, because germ cells also divide to make more germ cells
- Meiosis, because the 2 new cells are identical to each other
Chromosome cards (model, no crossing over, not to scale). Luz compares four sets of daughter cards from a parent with 2n = 4. Which set shows the cells from one complete meiosis?
Chromosome cards (model, no crossing over, not to scale). The parent cell has 2n = 4: pair 1 is dark card D1 and light card L1, and pair 2 is dark card D2 and light card L2. Set P: 2 cells, each with D1, L1, D2 and L2. Set Q: 4 cells, with D1 and D2 in 2 cells and L1 and L2 in 2 cells. Set R: 4 cells, each with D1, L1, D2 and L2. Set S: 2 cells, one with D1 and D2 and one with L1 and L2; each card has 2 sister chromatids. Chromosome cards (model, no crossing over, not to scale). The parent cell has 2n = 4: pair 1 is dark card D1 and light card L1, and pair 2 is dark card D2 and light card L2. Set P: 2 cells, each with D1, L1, D2 and L2. Set Q: 4 cells, with D1 and D2 in 2 cells and L1 and L2 in 2 cells. Set R: 4 cells, each with D1, L1, D2 and L2. Set S: 2 cells, one with D1 and D2 and one with L1 and L2; each card has 2 sister chromatids. Parent cell: 2n = 4 D1 L1 D2 L2 Set P: 2 cells D1 L1 D2 L2 D1 L1 D2 L2 Set Q: 4 cells D1 D2 D1 D2 L1 L2 L1 L2 Set R: 4 cells D1 L1 D2 L2 D1 L1 D2 L2 D1 L1 D2 L2 D1 L1 D2 L2 Set S: 2 cells D1 D2 L1 L2 - Set P: 2 cells, each with the full set of cards
- Set R: 4 cells, each with the full set of cards
- Set Q: 4 cells, each with half the cards
- Set S: 2 cells, each with half the cards
Use this
Notebook, mitosis (model data), 4 rows. Columns: line, what was written. 1, The chromosomes are copied before the cell divides. 2, One division makes 2 new cells. 3, Each new cell has 3 chromosomes, half of the parent's 2n = 6. 4, The new cells match the parent cell.
Milo checks a classmate's notebook about mitosis. Which choice finds the mistake and fixes it?
- Line 1: the chromosomes should be copied after the division
- Line 2: mitosis should make 4 new cells
- Line 3: each new cell should have 6 chromosomes
- Line 4: the new cells should differ from the parent
Use this
Notebook, meiosis (model data), 4 rows. Columns: line, what was written. 1, The chromosomes are copied once, before meiosis begins. 2, Two divisions follow in a row. 3, Four cells are made, each with 4 chromosomes, for 2n = 8. 4, The four cells are identical, because the chromosomes were copied exactly.
Noah checks a classmate's notebook about meiosis. Which choice finds the mistake and fixes it?
- Line 3: each cell should have 8 chromosomes
- Line 1: the chromosomes should be copied twice
- Line 4: the four cells differ from each other
- Line 2: meiosis has 1 division
Notebook, strawberry runner (model data)
line what was written 1 A parent strawberry plant sends out a runner 2 Cells of the runner divide by mitosis 3 A new plant grows at a node and matches the parent 4 The new plant began when an egg cell and a sperm cell joined Pia checks a classmate's notebook about a strawberry runner. Which choice finds the mistake and fixes it?
- Line 4: no cells joined; the plant grew from the parent
- Line 3: the new plant should differ from the parent plant
- Line 1: a runner is part of the root, not the stem
- Line 2: the runner's cells should divide by meiosis, not mitosis
Claim card (model data)
claim reason given Every egg and sperm cell from one animal is identical meiosis copies the chromosomes just once Ren reads the claim card. Which reply gives the right verdict with the right reason?
- Yes: cells from one animal share the same chromosomes
- No: crossing over and random lining up make the cells differ
- No: meiosis makes 2 cells, which is too few to compare
- Yes: meiosis makes cells that are identical, as mitosis does
Tala reads the claim card. Which reply gives the right verdict with the right reason?
- Yes: meiosis is how any body cell makes new cells for the body
- No: body cells use mitosis, which keeps the full number
- Yes: meiosis keeps the full number, which a skin cell needs
- No: skin cells use mitosis, which halves the chromosome number
Zee reads the claim card. Which reply gives the right verdict with the right reason?
Claim card (model data), 1 row. Columns: claim, reason given. Plants grown from runners vary more than plants grown from joined egg and pollen cells, mitosis shuffles genes. Claim card (model data), 1 row. Columns: claim, reason given. Plants grown from runners vary more than plants grown from joined egg and pollen cells, mitosis shuffles genes. Claim card (model data) claim reason given Plants grown from runners vary more than plants grown from joined egg and pollen cells mitosis shuffles genes - No: mitosis copies exactly, but meiosis and joining mix chromosomes
- Yes: mitosis shuffles the genes in each new cell of the runner
- Yes: plants from two parents match each other more
- No: runner plants form by meiosis, so they are identical to each other