Meiosis Flashcards
What is meiosis?
Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, producing four haploid cells from one diploid cell.
How many rounds of division occur in meiosis?
Meiosis consists of two rounds of division: meiosis I and meiosis II.
What is the primary purpose of meiosis?
The primary purpose of meiosis is to produce gametes for sexual reproduction.
True or False: Mitosis results in two genetically identical daughter cells.
True.
Fill in the blank: In meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate during ________.
anaphase I.
What is the difference between haploid and diploid cells?
Haploid cells contain one set of chromosomes, while diploid cells contain two sets.
What type of cells are produced by meiosis?
Meiosis produces gametes: sperm in males and eggs in females.
What is the term for the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis?
Crossing over.
During which phase of meiosis does crossing over occur?
Prophase I.
True or False: Mitosis involves one round of DNA replication followed by one division.
True.
What are the two main processes that contribute to genetic variation in meiosis?
Crossing over and independent assortment.
Define spermatogenesis.
Spermatogenesis is the process of producing sperm cells in the male reproductive system.
What is the end product of spermatogenesis?
Four viable sperm cells from one precursor cell.
Define oogenesis.
Oogenesis is the process of producing egg cells in the female reproductive system.
How many functional eggs are produced from one oocyte during oogenesis?
One functional egg and three polar bodies.
What is the term for the non-dividing stage of a cell’s life cycle?
Interphase.
What is the significance of independent assortment during meiosis?
Independent assortment leads to the random distribution of maternal and paternal chromosomes into gametes.
True or False: Meiosis results in genetically identical cells.
False.
What is the role of polar bodies in oogenesis?
Polar bodies are non-functional cells that help to discard excess genetic material during egg formation.
In which type of cell division are sister chromatids separated?
Mitosis and meiosis II.
What is the chromosome number in human gametes?
23 chromosomes.
Define the term ‘gamete’.
A gamete is a haploid reproductive cell, such as a sperm or egg, that can unite with another gamete to form a zygote.
What is the main difference between meiosis and mitosis?
Meiosis results in four non-identical haploid cells, while mitosis results in two identical diploid cells.
During which phase of meiosis do homologous chromosomes line up at the equatorial plate?
Metaphase I.
True or False: Oogenesis occurs continuously from puberty to menopause.
False; it occurs in a cyclic manner.
What is a zygote?
A zygote is the fertilized egg formed by the union of a sperm and an egg.
Fill in the blank: The first meiotic division is called ________.
meiosis I.
What type of reproduction is associated with meiosis?
Sexual reproduction.
In which phase of meiosis do cells become haploid for the first time?
After meiosis I.
True or False: Meiosis occurs in somatic cells.
False; it occurs in germ cells.
What is the significance of genetic diversity in populations?
Genetic diversity increases a population’s ability to adapt to changing environments.
Fill in the blank: The process of forming a sperm cell from a spermatogonium is called ________.
spermatogenesis.
What is the role of meiosis in evolution?
Meiosis increases genetic variation, which is essential for natural selection.
During which meiotic phase do sister chromatids separate?
Anaphase II.
What is the total number of chromosomes in a human diploid cell?
46 chromosomes.
True or False: The primary oocyte is arrested in prophase I until ovulation.
True.
Name of the point where crossing over occurs?
The chiasma
