it is a type of nuclear division that gives rise to cells that are genetically different
meiosis is used to produce gametes (sex cells)
the number of chromosomes must be halved when the gametes are formed
the cells divide twice in meiosis so the gametes are haploid (having half the normal number of chromosomes)
meiosis produces four haploid cells
fill in the blanks
A) duplicated
B) breaks
C) different
D) swapped
E) haploid
process:
each chromosome makes identical copies of itself
first division - chromosomes pair up along the centre of the cell, recombination occurs and then cel fibres will pull the pairs apart, each new cell will have one of each recombinant chromosome pair
second division - chromosomes will line up along the centre of the cell, cell fibres will pull them apart
a total of four haploiddaughter cells will be produced
importance:
production of gametes (sperm cells, egg cells, pollen grains and ovum)
increases genetic variation of offspring
meiosis produces variation by forming new combinations of maternal and paternal chromosomes every time a gamete is made, meaning when gametes fuse randomly at fertilisation, each offspring will be different from any others
