meiosis

• Meiosis


  The process by which gametes (sperm and egg cells) are produced, with half the normal number of chromosomes
• Normal human cells

  • Contain 23 pairs of chromosomes
• Gametes (sperm and egg cells)


  • Contain 23 single chromosomes
• Meiosis


  1. Chromosomes are copied

  2. Cell divides into two

  3. Both cells divide one more time forming gametes
• Meiosis produces four gametes from one original cell, and each cell is genetically varied from the others
• Fertilization. a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg) will form a new cell with the full number of chromosomes
• After fertilization, the new cell has 23 chromosome pairs