.2 meiosis

• Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces gametes with half the normal chromosome number, crucial for sexual reproduction.
• When a cell divides to form gametes:


  copies of the genetic information are made

  the cell divides twice to form four gametes, each with a single set of chromosomes

  all gametes are genetically different from each other.
• Gametes join at fertilisation to restore the normal number of chromosomes. The new cell divides by mitosis. The number of cells increases. As the embryo develops cells differentiate.