Meiosis

Question 1

What is meiosis?

Answer 1

A form of cell division that produces 4 genetically different haploid cells (cells with half the number of chromosomes found in the parent cell) known as gametes

Question 2

What happens during meiosis 1?

Answer 2

1)homologous chromosomes pair to form bivalents
2)crossing over (exchange of sections of genetic material) occurs at chiasmata.
3)cell division into two. Homologous chromosomes separate randomly. Each cell contains either maternal or paternal copy.

Question 3

What are homologous chromosomes?

Answer 3

Pair of chromosomes with genes at the same locus. 1 maternal & 1 paternal. Some allele may be the same while others are different.

Question 4

What happens during meiosis 2?

Answer 4

1)independent segregation of sister chromatids
2)each cell divided again, producing 4 haploid cells

Question 5

How do meiosis produce genetic variation?

Answer 5

-crossing over during meiosis 1
-independent assortment (random segregation) of homologous chromosomes & sister chromatids
Results in new combinations of alleles