OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

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During which biological process are haploid cells created?

Mitosis
Meiosis
Fertilization
Apoptosis

The correct answer is: Meiosis

Haploid cells are created during meiosis, which is a specialized type of cell division specifically designed for producing gametes—sperm and eggs in animals. In meiosis, a diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division to produce four genetically varied haploid cells. This reduction in chromosome number is essential for sexual reproduction; when haploid gametes fuse during fertilization, they restore the diploid chromosome number in the resulting zygote. Mitosis, on the other hand, results in two genetically identical diploid cells, maintaining the original chromosome number, which is not conducive to gamete formation. Fertilization involves the combination of two haploid gametes to form a diploid zygote and does not create haploid cells itself. Apoptosis refers to programmed cell death and is unrelated to cell division processes. Thus, meiosis is the key process responsible for generating haploid cells.