cell division

• define asexual reproduction: produces a genetically identical offspring with one parent without the fusion of gametes
• what is mitosis: a nuclear division that produces 2 genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell and chromosome number is maintained
• what is the importance of mitosis: allow growth, repair and asexual reproduction that requires genetically identical cells
• what is sexual reproduction: process involving the fusion of nuclei of two gametes to form a zygote, resulting in the production of genetically different offsprings
• what is haploid: half the number of chromosomes as the original number
• what is diploid: two complete sets of chromosomes in an organism’s cells
• what is needed prior to fertilisation in sexual reproduction: a reduction nuclear division that produces 4 haploid daughter cells from one parent cell due to separation of homologous chromosomes. used in the formation of gametes
• what is homologous pairs of chromosomes: chromosome pairs from each parent that are similar in length, gene position and centromere location
• what is meiosis: a type of cell division that gives rise to genetically different cells in which the chromosomes number is halved due to the separation of homologous chromosomes