Meiosis

Question 1

How many chromosomes do gametes have?

Answer 1

23. Not 23 pairs. Just 23.

Question 2

What’s a gamete? Give 2 examples.

Answer 2

A gamete is a sex cell. Eggs and Sperm = gametes.

Question 3

Gametes only have 1 copy of each _________.

Answer 3

Chromosome.

Question 4

Meiosis, in humans, occurs in which 2 organs?

Answer 4

The testes (sperm production)
The ovaries (egg production)

Question 5

Define Meiosis.

Answer 5

Meiosis produces cells which have only half the normal number of chromosomes.

Question 6

Before the cell divides, what does it do to its DNA?

Answer 6

Duplicates it.

Question 7

What happens in the first division of Meiosis?

Answer 7

The chromosome pairs line up in the centre of the cell.
The pairs are then pulled apart, so each of the 2 new cells formed from this division has only one copy of each chromosome.

Question 8

What happens in the second division of Meiosis?

Answer 8

The chromosomes line up again in the centre of the 2 new cells produced from the first devision.
The arms of the chromosomes are then pulled apart in each of these 2 cells to form 4 new gametes, each with only a single set of chromosomes in it

Question 9

Why are all the gametes different?

Answer 9

Because, before the cell divides, sections of DNA get swapped in the chromosomes.