Exercise 6

Question 1

2 What type of cells divide by Meiosis?

Answer 1

2. Primitive cells called germ cells will divide by meiosis to produce sex cells. In the female this takes place in the ovaries producing eggs and in the male this takes place in the testes producing sperm.

Question 2

3. What is the significance of Meiosis I?

Answer 2

3. In Meiosis I, the crossing-over of genetic material between non-sister chromatids and the separation of homologous chromosomes is significant. The crossing- over of genetic material between non-sister chromatids ensures that no matter which chromosome ends up in a sex cell, it will always contain genetic information from both parents. This happens in Prophase I.

The separation of homologous chromosomes ensures that the new cells are not identical only having one member of the original pair. This happens in Anaphase I.

Question 3

4. What is the significance of Meiosis II?

Answer 3

4. In Meiosis II, the sister chromatids separate from each other and four new haploid gametes are formed with one chromosome from each homologous pair, for a total of 23 chromosomes in each cell.

Question 4

5. What is the importance of Meiosis?

Answer 4

5. The nuclear division called Meiosis which occurs in sex cells ensures that the chromosomal number will remain constant in each generation, in humans that is 46 chromosomes in the nucleus of each body cell. It also ensures that every individual has a chance of being as different as possible from their parents as each offspring receives a different combination of chromosomes and genes from their parent.

Question 5

During meiosis, how many nuclear divisions take place, how many cells are produced, and how many chromosomes are in each new cell?

Answer 5

1. During meiosis, two nuclear divisions take place producing a total of four new haploid cells containing half the number of chromosomes of the original parent cell which is 23 chromosomes in each of the four cells.

Question 6

6. What is the name given to the production of sperm?

Answer 6

6. The production of sperm, the male gamete, is referred to as spermatogenesis.

Question 7

7. What is the name given to the production of eggs?

Answer 7

7. The production of eggs, the female gamete, is referred to as oogenesis.