meiosis

Cards (25)

  • 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 must a cell undergo to make gametes?
    Meiosis
  • How many different types of chromosomes do humans have?
    23 different types
  • What do chromosomes contain?
    Genetic information
  • How many individual chromosomes does a 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 chromosomes during the first step of meiosis?
    They replicate to form X-shaped chromosomes
  • How do chromosomes line up during meiosis?
    In pairs along the center of the cell
  • Why is the left-to-right order of chromosomes random?
    It varies in each meiosis process
  • What does the random distribution of chromosomes during meiosis result in?
    Genetically different cells
  • What occurs during the second division of meiosis?
    Chromosomes are pulled apart into two arms
  • How many cells are produced at the end of meiosis?
    Four cells
  • Why are gametes genetically unique?
    Due to tiny changes during meiosis
  • What do male gametes develop into?
    Sperm cells
  • What do female gametes develop into?
    Egg cells
  • What happens during fertilization?
    A sperm and egg fuse to form a diploid cell
  • What can a diploid cell do after fertilization?
    Divide by mitosis to form an embryo
  • What are the main steps of meiosis?
    1. DNA replication
    2. First division: chromosome pairs separate
    3. Second division: chromosome arms separate
    4. Result: four genetically unique gametes
  • How does meiosis contribute to genetic diversity?
    • Random assortment of chromosomes
    • Crossing over during DNA replication
    • Unique combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes