Unit 5.2

Question 1

What does meiosis produce?

Answer 1

4 haploid gametes (sex cells) that are genetically different from eachother

Question 2

What are the certain processes that result in genetic diversity?

Answer 2

1. Crossing over (occuring in prophase I, when double nonsister homologous chromosomes cross over, exchanging segments)
2. Random assortment (the order in which homologous pairs line up in during metaphase I)
3. Fertilization of gametes

Question 3

What are homologous chromosomes?

Answer 3

They are chromosomes that code for the same gene (one from each parent)

Question 4

What does crossing over lead to?

Answer 4

It leads to recombinant chromatids

Question 5

What does the formation of recombinant chromatids cause?

Answer 5

It causes an increase in genetic diversity

Question 6

What is random assortment?

Answer 6

It’s the random order in which homologous pairs line up in during metaphase I

Question 7

What is fertilization?

Answer 7

It is the fusion of parent gametes in order to produce a diploid (fertilized) cell

Question 8

How does fertilization lead to genetic diversity?

Answer 8

It leads to genetic diversity because it is random, meaning that any of the genetically different gametes of either parent can contribute to diploid nature of genomes in offspring