3.3 - The Importance of Meiosis Flashcards
(12 cards)
What is the purpose of mitosis?
Mitosis is used for the division of ordinary body cells to produce diploid (2n) daughter cells.
What is the purpose of meiosis?
Meiosis is used to produce haploid gametes (sperm and egg cells). Gametes only have one copy of each chromosome.
How many cells are produced at the end of meiosis?
Meiosis results in the formation of four non-identical cells from one cell.
What happens to chromosomes during meiosis?
The cell makes copies of its chromosomes, so it has double the amount of genetic information.
What is the chromosome count after the first division in meiosis?
The cell divides into two cells, each with half the amount of chromosomes (46).
What is the chromosome count after the second division in meiosis?
The cell divides again producing four cells, each with a quarter the amount of chromosomes (23).
What are the cells produced by meiosis called?
These cells are called gametes and they are all genetically different from each other.
What happens to chromosomes during the formation of gametes?
The chromosomes are shuffled during the process, resulting in random chromosomes ending up in each of the four cells.
What occurs at fertilization?
Gametes with 23 chromosomes join at fertilization to produce a cell with 46 chromosomes, the normal number.
What happens to the fertilized cell?
This cell divides by mitosis to produce many copies.
What forms as a result of cell division after fertilization?
More and more cells are produced, and an embryo forms.
What process do cells undergo after the embryo forms?
The cells begin to take on different roles after this stage, known as differentiation.
