7B meiosis

Question 1

how meiosis works

Answer 1

Meiosis is a specialised form of cell division that occurs in sexually reproducing organisms and is used to produce gametes
In humans these gametes are sperm and egg (ova) which contain one copy of each chromosome (n)
These will fuse together during fertilisation to create 2 copies of each chromosome (2n) inside a developing zygote

Question 2

how many cells does meiosis result in

Answer 2

Meiosis involves a single cell dividing into 4 haploid cells, each of which is genetically different from one another

Question 3

process of meiosis

Answer 3

The process of meiosis involves 2 distinct cellular divisions:
Meiosis I – which separates each homologous chromosome into different cells
Meiosis II – which separates each sister chromatid into four different cells

Question 4

point of meiosis

Answer 4

specific purpose is to produce gametes which have exactly half the genetic material of the original cell
Important for when 2 gametes fuse during fertilisation, so that the resulting offspring has the right amount of genetic material
The aim of meiosis is to produce gametes that are genetically distinct from each other and the parent cell

Question 5

meiosis one processes

Answer 5

Begins with a diploid germline cell and results in 2 genetically distinct daughter cells.
These cells will become inputs for meiosis II

Question 6

how does meiosis contribute to genetic diversity

Answer 6

Intricate processes during meiotic division contribute to the increased genetic diversity in the resulting daughter cells
Two of these processes are:
Crossing over
Independent assortment

Question 7

meiosis 2 processes

Answer 7

Diploid cells that were created in meiosis I and splits each of the chromosomes into sister chromatids, creating 4 haploid cells