meiosis

Question 1

what type of cells does meiosis produce and are they genetically identical

Answer 1

meiosis produces 4 genetically different haploid daughter cells

Question 2

how many nuclear divisions occur during meiosis

Answer 2

2 nuclear divisions

Question 3

what are the 2 ways the cells are made genetically different

Answer 3

• crossing over between homologous chromosomes
• independent segregation of homologous chromosomes

Question 4

what does crossing over do to the chromosomes

Answer 4

creates new combinations of alleles

Question 5

what does independent segregation do in terms of chromosomes

Answer 5

maternal and paternal chromosomes are reshuffled in any combination

Question 6

explain the process of meiosis

Answer 6

1. the cell undergoes DNA replication
2. independent segregation causes homologous chromosomes to randomly line up at the equator
3. crossing over may occur
4. then there is the 1st division forming 2 cells
5. the second division forms 4 haploid daughter cells that are all genetically different

Question 7

explain the process of crossing over

Answer 7

1. homologous pairs of chromosomes associate to form a bivalent and a chiasma forms
2. equal lengths of non-sister chromatid are exchanged
3. producing new combinations of alleles

Question 8

define bivalent

Answer 8

2 chromosomes coming together

Question 9

define chiasma

Answer 9

crossing over point that occurs during crossing over due to a bivalent

Question 10

why is crossing over important in meiosis

Answer 10

it produces new combination of alleles which increases genetic variation