Section 2.2 Cell Division in Sexual Reproduction

Question 1

What is meiosis?

Answer 1

A type of cell division in which the parent cell results in four sex cells called gametes

Question 2

Are the gametes produced by meiosis identical to the orgininal cell?

Answer 2

No, they are also different from each other. This introduces variation

Question 3

How many chromosomes do gametes have?

Answer 3

23 pairs of chromosomes

Question 4

Where are gametes formed in males and in females?

Answer 4

Females: made in the ovaries
Males: made in the testes

Question 5

What are female gametes called?

Answer 5

Egg cells or ova

Question 6

What are male gametes called?

Answer 6

Sperm cells

Question 7

Describe the process of meiosis.

Answer 7

Step 1: chromosomes are copied, so there is four sets of chromosomes (92 pairs)

Step 2: Then the cell divides to form two cells with two sets of chromosomes (46 pairs of chromosomes in each cell)

Step 3: The cell divides again to form four cells with a single set of chromosomes (23 pairs of chromosomes in each cell)

Question 8

What is fertilisation?

Answer 8

When two gametes join to form a new cell with a full set of chromosomes (2 sets = 46 pairs of chromosomes)

Question 9

What happens to the new cells produced by the gametes after sexual reproduction?

Answer 9

The cell divides by mitosis to form a fetus

Question 10

What are the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction?

Answer 10

• In asexual reproduction offsprings are produced from parent cells by MITOSIS
  In sexual reproduction gametes are produced as a result of MEIOSIS
• In asexual reproduction there is LITTLE VARIATION
  In sexual reproduction there is VARIATION