mieosis

• Meiosis

  The process that forms gametes (sex cells)
• Gametes


  Cells that only contain half the genetic material of a normal cell (haploid)
• Diploid cells


  Cells that have two sets of genetic information, one from each parent
• Meiosis


  1. Replicate DNA

  2. Chromosomes line up in pairs

  3. Chromosome pairs pulled apart

  4. Cell splits in two

  5. Cell splits in two again
• Chromosomes


  • Contain genetic information
  • Humans have 23 different types
  • Each type has two copies, one from each parent
• The left-to-right order of chromosome pairs is random during meiosis
• The DNA in each of the four gametes produced by meiosis is genetically unique
• Sperm and egg fuse during fertilization

  Form a diploid cell that can divide by mitosis
• The diploid cell can divide by mitosis to form an embryo, fetus, and fully grown organism