A scientist examines a human cell with 23 chromosomes and hypothesizes that this cell is the product of meiosis. Which of these would provide further evidence that the cell is the product of meiosis? Choose the correct answer.
A)The chromosomes in the cell consist of only autosomes.
B)The chromosomes in the cell lack a homologous pair in the same cell.
C)The chromosomes in the cell were not replicated before the cell divided.

B) The chromosomes in the cell lack a homologous pair in the same cell

Explanation:

Meiosis is the cellular division that reduces the chromosomal number of the parent cell by half in the daughter cells produced. In a somatic (body) human cell, chromosomes are found in homologous pairs i.e. each pair coming from each parent to form a diploid organism (2n).

However, when meiosis occurs, this homologous pair is separated into individual chromosomes. This is the case of the human cell which contains 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs of chromosomes. Each pair is an homolog of the other, however, meiotic division causes the homologs to separate. This will cause the chromosomes in the cell lack a homologous pair in the same cell.