Meiosis

Question 1

Define meiosis

Answer 1

A form of nuclear division in which the four daughter nuclei contain half the chromosome number of the parent nucleus

Question 2

What happens to the daughter nuclei immediately after meiosis?

Answer 2

They are enclosed by cells

Question 3

What type of daughter cells are formed when meiosis takes place in a diploid cell?

Answer 3

All the daughter cells will be haploid

Question 4

What are gametes?

Answer 4

Haploid cells which are capable of joining with another haploid cell from the opposite sex

Question 5

What are the functions of meiosis in multicellular organisms?

Answer 5

1. It allows for sexual reproduction, involving gametes, while still maintaining the parental chromosome number
2. It allows for new combinations of genes to be formed, which will give rise to variations among organisms

Question 6

In sexual reproduction what joins to form a diploid (2n) zygote?

Answer 6

Two haploid (n) cells

Question 7

In sexual reproduction two haploid (n) cells join to form a what?

Answer 7

A diploid (2n) zygote

Question 8

What are the gametes in animals?

Answer 8

The sperm and egg

Question 9

What are the gametes in plants?

Answer 9

The male gamete nuclei and the egg and polar nuclei

Question 10

How many chromosomes does a zygote contain?

Answer 10

46 chromosomes

Question 11

Why is meiosis essential for sexual reproduction?

Answer 11

As meiosis halves the chromosome number but then restores the normal number of chromosomes at fertilisation

Question 12

How does meiosis allow for variation?

Answer 12

The cells resulting from meiosis are not identical and their genes vary due to the exchange of genetic material which takes place during meiosis

Question 13

What does the variation in the genes produced in meiosis reuslt in?

Answer 13

Variations or differenced in the organisms resulting from the re-assortment of genetic material due to sexual reproduction