Meiosis/Mitosis

Question 1

What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

Answer 1

the crossover that occurs in prophase 1

Question 2

What is synapsis?

Answer 2

the fusion of chromosome pairs at the start of meiosis.

Question 3

What is chiasmata?

Answer 3

site of crossing over

Question 4

What is nondisjunction?

Answer 4

An error in cell division that causes homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids to move to the same side of the dividing cell
(leads to abnormal numbers of chromosomes in daughter cells)

Question 5

What is spermatogenesis

Answer 5

the production of sperm in the testes

1. starts with a diploid cell called a spermatogonium
2. at puberty, spermatogonia reproduced by mitosis undergo meiosis to form 4 haploid cells
3. after meiosis the cells undergo a final developmental stage where they develop into mature sperm

Question 6

What is oogenesis

Answer 6

the production of egg cells that occurs in the ovaries

1. starts with an Oogonium (diploid cell) that develops into oocytes
2. before birth, the oocytes reproduce by mitosis and meiosis but stop at prophase 1
3. at puberty, hormones cause oogenesis to continue and during each menstrual cycle one oocyte completes meiosis 1 and leaves the ovary (ovulation)

*Oogenesis involves in the cytoplasm dividing unequally so only 1 egg is produced

Question 7

Explain the difference between mitosis and cytokinesis

Answer 7

mitosis is a type of cell division in which a whole cell divides

cytokinesis is one of the steps of mitosis in which the cytoplasm of the cell divides

Question 8

What phase of mitosis do the cells need to be in to get a viable karyotype image? Why not interphase?

Answer 8

To obtain a viable karyotype image, cells need to be in the metaphase stage of mitosis. Metaphase is the stage where chromosomes are most condensed and aligned along the metaphase plate, making them easier to observe and analyze under a microscope.

Interphase is not suitable for obtaining a karyotype image because during interphase, the chromosomes are in their least condensed state, and individual chromosomes are not distinguishable. Instead, they appear as long, thread-like structures within the nucleus.