Meiosis

Question 1

What are gametes?

Answer 1

Sex cells

Question 2

What do gametes have?

Answer 2

Only one copy of each chromosome, so you can combine one sex cell from the mother and one from the father and still end up with 46 chromosomes

Question 3

How many chromosomes do gametes have?

Answer 3

23

Question 4

What is meiosis?

Answer 4

Producing cells which have half the normal number of chromosomes it involves two divisions

Question 5

Describe meiosis

Answer 5

1. Before cell division the DNA duplicates
2. In the first division chromosome pairs line up in the centre of the cell
3. The pairs are pulled apart, so each cell has only one copy of each chromosome, some from mother and some from father
4. In the second division, chromosomes line up in the centre of cell and arms of the chromosomes are pulled apart
5. You get four gametes each with only a single set of chromosomes

Question 6

Where does meiosis take place?

Answer 6

Only in the reproductive organs where gametes are made