Q.131 Botany ⭐ 360° Option Elimination Active

NEET 2026 Botany Question 131 Solution

Topic: Cell Cycle and Cell Division · Official NTA Booklet Code 50

Question

Given below are two statements: Statement I: Chromosomes are fully condensed at the end of prophase I. Statement II: Meiosis I resembles mitosis. In the light of the above statements, choose the most appropriate answer from the options given below:

(1)Both Statement I and Statement II are true
(2)Both Statement I and Statement II are false
(3)Statement I is correct, but Statement II is false
(4)Statement I is incorrect, but Statement II is true

✓

Verified Against NTA Final Answer Key

Option (3) : Statement I is correct, but Statement II is false

📚 Cell Cycle and Cell Division Medium

📋 Given Parameters & Problem Setup

Statement I Chromosomes are fully condensed at the end of prophase I.

Statement II Meiosis I resembles mitosis.

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The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Meiosis II Resembles Mitosis (NOT Meiosis I)

⏱️ Save ~40 seconds

Meiosis I is Reductional; Meiosis II is Equational (Resembles Mitosis)! Statement II is FALSE!

1 Evaluate Statement I: In prophase I, the final stage is Diakinesis, where terminalisation of chiasmata is completed and chromosomes are fully condensed. -> Statement I is TRUE.

2 Evaluate Statement II: Claims "Meiosis I resembles mitosis". Meiosis I involves homologous pairing (synapsis), crossing over, and separation of homologous chromosomes (reduction division: 2n -> n). It is MEIOSIS II that resembles normal mitosis (equational division)!

3 Therefore, Statement II is definitively FALSE.

4 Statement I is correct, but Statement II is false -> Option (3)!

5 Mark Option (3) in under 10 seconds.

🛡️

Why You Can 100% Trust This Shortcut: NCERT Biology · Cell Cycle and Cell Division (Meiosis II: Equational division preserving haploid chromosome number).

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Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Step 1

Evaluate Statement I (Diakinesis & Chromosome Condensation)

Prophase I of Meiosis I is divided into five substages: Leptotene, Zygotene, Pachytene, Diplotene, and Diakinesis. During Diakinesis, chiasmata undergo terminalisation, the chromosomes achieve full condensation, the nucleolus disappears, and the nuclear envelope breaks down.

\text{End of Prophase I (Diakinesis)} \implies \mathbf{Chromosomes\text{ are fully condensed [Statement I is TRUE]}}

• Prepares homologous bivalents for alignment on the equatorial plate in Metaphase I.

Step 2

Evaluate Statement II (Meiosis I vs Mitosis)

Meiosis I is fundamentally distinct from mitosis: it involves synapsis of homologous pairs, formation of synaptonemal complexes, genetic crossing over, and disjunction of homologous chromosome pairs without centromere division (reducing chromosome number from diploid 2n to haploid n). In contrast, Meiosis II involves centromeric division and separation of sister chromatids, exactly resembling a standard mitosis.

\begin{aligned} \text{Meiosis I} &\neq \text{Mitosis (It is Reductional Division)} \\ \mathbf{Meiosis\text{ II}} &\mathbf{\equiv Mitosis\text{ (Equational Division)}} \end{aligned}

• Statement II falsely claims that Meiosis I resembles mitosis. Hence, Statement II is FALSE.

Step 3

Determine Matching Option

Statement I is correct, but Statement II is false. This corresponds directly to Option (3).

\text{Statement I is correct, but Statement II is false} \implies \text{Option (3)}

• Matches official NTA final answer key Option C / (3).

⭐

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

Diagnose every choice: Know exactly why the right option works and why distractors fail.

4-Option Deep Scan

1 A

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Statement II is false because Meiosis II, not Meiosis I, resembles mitosis.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Failing to distinguish between Meiosis I and Meiosis II.

2 B

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Incorrect. Statement I is a proven cytological fact.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Doubting diakinesis chromosome condensation.

3 C

✓ 100% Correct

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

100% accurate. Chromosomes are fully condensed at diakinesis; Meiosis II is the division that mirrors mitosis.

💡

Why this is airtight: None; thorough mastery of cell division mechanics.

4 D

✗ Incorrect

Verdict & Scientific Reason:

Completely inverted.

⚠️

Student Fallacy (Why candidates pick this trap): Opposite conceptual understanding.

⚠️

NTA Trap Alert: Meiosis I vs Meiosis II Mitotic Resemblance

NCERT has an explicit line: "Meiosis II resembles a normal mitosis." Examiners routinely change the Roman numeral to "Meiosis I" to trap hasty readers.

🛡️ How to avoid the -1 mark: Watch the Roman numerals: Meiosis ONE is Odd/Unique (Reduces 2n -> n); Meiosis TWO is Twin to Mitosis!

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Core NEET Syllabus Standard

NEET Biology Core Syllabus · Cell Cycle and Cell Division Standard Benchmark

Core Scientific Principle Tested:

"Chromosomes reach maximum condensation by the end of prophase I (diakinesis). Meiosis II (not Meiosis I) resembles mitosis."

Syllabus Focus: Meiosis - Stages and Significance

✓ Core NEET UG Syllabus Anchor Syllabus & Academic Standards ↗

Meiosis One is Reductional and Grand; Meiosis Two is Mitosis shaking hands!

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NEET 2026 Botany Question 131 Solution

Question

The 30-Second Exam Hall Shortcut: ⚡ Meiosis II Resembles Mitosis (NOT Meiosis I)

Step-by-Step Rigorous Workflow & Mathematical Proof

Evaluate Statement I (Diakinesis & Chromosome Condensation)

Evaluate Statement II (Meiosis I vs Mitosis)

Determine Matching Option

360° Option Elimination Engine Key Feature

NTA Trap Alert: Meiosis I vs Meiosis II Mitotic Resemblance

Core NEET Syllabus Standard

Ready to attempt under real exam pressure?

🔗 Related Questions — Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Function of Spindle Fibers during Mitosis (Chromosome Segregation)

Stages of Mitosis: Spindle Fibre Attachment to Kinetochores

Sequential Sub-stages of Prophase I: Leptotene and Diplotene

Sub-phases of Prophase I: Characteristic Cytological Events

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