Meiosis

• What process forms gametes in sexual reproduction?

  Meiosis
• What are gametes also known as?

  Sex cells
• How much genetic material do gametes contain?

  Half the genetic material
• What do we call cells that contain half the genetic material?

  Haploid cells
• What happens when two gametes combine?

  They form a normal diploid cell
• What is the term for cells with two sets of genetic information?

  Diploid cells
• What is the first step in meiosis?

  Replicate all of the cell's DNA
• What shape do chromosomes take after DNA replication in meiosis?

  X shape
• How many types of chromosomes do humans have?

  23 different types
• How many individual chromosomes does each human cell have?

  46 individual chromosomes
• What are maternal chromosomes?

  Chromosomes from the mother
• What are paternal chromosomes?

  Chromosomes from the father
• What happens to chromosome pairs during meiosis?

  They are randomly distributed
• Why are gametes genetically unique?

  Due to random distribution of chromosomes
• What occurs during the second division of meiosis?

  Chromosomes line up and split again
• How many cells result from meiosis?

  Four cells
• What do male gametes develop into?

  Sperm cells
• What do female gametes develop into?

  Egg cells
• What happens during fertilization?

  Sperm and egg fuse to form a diploid cell
• What does the diploid cell do after fertilization?

  Divides by mitosis to form an embryo
• What is the final outcome of the fertilized diploid cell?

  A fully grown organism
• What are the main steps of meiosis?

  1. DNA replication
  2. First division: chromosome pairs separate
  3. Second division: sister chromatids separate
  4. Result: four genetically unique gametes
• What is the significance of random chromosome distribution in meiosis?

  • Creates genetic diversity
  • Ensures unique gametes
  • Affects offspring traits