Mitosis/Meiosis

Question 1

What is mitosis?

Answer 1

• produces cells for growth and repair
• produces 2 genetically identical daughter cells with 46 chromosomes each
• purpose is to make genetically identical offspring with minimal variation

Question 2

What is meiosis?

Answer 2

• produces sex cells for fertilisation
• produces 4 genetically different daughter cells with 23 chromosomes each (because a zygote must have equal genetic information from both parents, so both parent’s sex cells must have 23 chromosomes, so when the fuse, they create cells with 46 chromosomes)
• purpose is to make genetically different cells with variation

Question 3

Difference between mitosis and meiosis?

List 4 differences…

Answer 3

• mitosis is for growth and repair
• meiosis is to produce sex cells
• meiosis produces 4 new different cells, mitosis produces 2 of the same
• meiosis produces cells with 23 chromosomes, mitosis produces cells with 46 chromosomes

Question 4

What is independent assortment?

Answer 4

when the chromosome pairs line up during cell division, they line up independently of each other – random order. So there is no certain outcome of what chromosomes will be in each new cell – each could have different variations of the chromosomes

Question 5

What is crossing over?

Answer 5

when the pairs of chromosomes are trying to line up, they may exchange genetic information with their neighbouring chromosomes by coming into contact with them. This is when crossing over occurs.

Question 6

Difference between somatic and gamete cells

Answer 6

• Somatic cells are produces by mitosis

- Gamete cells are produces by meiosis