Sexual Reproduction Flashcards
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What is meiosis?
A type of reduction division that halves the chromosome number, producing four haploid daughter cells from one diploid cell.
Where does meiosis occur, and what does it produce?
Meiosis occurs in the sex organs to produce gametes (sex cells like sperm and eggs).
What are homologous chromosomes?
Chromosomes inherited from different parents, one from the mother and one from the father.
What is crossing over in meiosis?
The exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids during Prophase I, creating new combinations of alleles.
What happens during Metaphase I of meiosis?
Homologous chromosome pairs align at the metaphase plate, and independent assortment occurs, increasing genetic variation.
What is independent assortment?
The random alignment of homologous chromosomes during Metaphase I, influencing which alleles are inherited together.
What happens during Anaphase I of meiosis?
Homologous chromosomes separate and move to opposite poles, while sister chromatids remain attached.
How is Meiosis II similar to mitosis?
Meiosis II involves the separation of sister chromatids, with stages identical to mitosis: Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, and Telophase II.
What is the result of meiosis?
Four genetically distinct haploid cells, each with a unique genetic composition due to crossing over.
How does meiosis contribute to genetic variation?
Through crossing over and independent assortment, meiosis creates unique combinations of alleles in gametes.
What happens during fertilization after meiosis?
Haploid sperm and egg cells combine to form a diploid zygote, restoring the complete chromosome set.
