reproduction

• what is meiosis 


  •form of cell division involved in the formation of gametes ( non identical haploid cells) in reproductive organs

  • chromosomes number is halved

  • involves 2 divisions
• what must occur prior to meiosis

  interphase - copies of genetic information are made during this process
• what happens during the first stage of meiosis

  •chromosomes pairs line up along the cell equator

  •the pair of chromosomes are separated and move to opposite poles of the cell (the side to which each chromosome is pulled is random, creating variation)

  •chromosome number is halved
• what happens during the second stage of meiosis

  •chromosomes line up along the cell equator

  • the chromatids are separated and move to opposite poles of the cell

  • four unique haploid gametes are produced
• why is meiosis important for sexual reproduction

  • it increases genetic variation

  • it ensures that the zygote formed at fertilisation is diploid