Główna zawartość
Biologia w szkole średniej
Meiosis review
Pojęcia kluczowe
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Gamete | A sex cell (in humans: sperm for males, and eggs for females) |
| Meiosis | A two-step process of cell division that is used to make gametes (sex cells) |
| Crossing over | Process in which homologous chromosomes trade parts |
| Interphase | Phase of the cell cycle where the cell grows and makes a copy of its DNA |
| Homologous chromosomes | Set of chromosomes (one from each parent), that are very similar to one another and have the same size/shape |
| Sister chromatids | Two halves of a duplicated chromosome |
| Diploid (2n) | Cell that contains two sets of homologous chromosomes |
| Haploid (n) | Cell that contains only a single set of genes |
Meiosis
The purpose of meiosis is to produce gametes, or sex cells. During meiosis, four daughter cells are produced, each of which are haploid (containing half as many chromosomes as the parent cell).
Stages of meiosis
Meiosis contains two separate cell divisions, meaning that one parent cell can produce four gametes (eggs in females, sperm in males). In each round of division, cells go through four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
Before entering meiosis I, a cell must first go through interphase. This is the same interphase that occurs before mitosis. The cell grows, copies its chromosomes and prepares for division during the G
Meiosis I
Meiosis I is the first round of cell division, in which the goal is to separate homologous pairs.
Meiosis II
The second round of cell division is meiosis II, in which the goal is to separate sister chromatids.
Common mistakes and misconceptions
- Interphase is not part of meiosis. Although a cell needs to undergo interphase before entering meiosis, interphase is technically not part of meiosis.
- Crossing over occurs only during prophase I. The complex that temporarily forms between homologous chromosomes is only present in prophase I, making this the only opportunity the cell has to move DNA segments between the homologous pair.
- Meiosis does not occur in all cells. Meiosis only occurs in reproductive cells, as the goal is to create haploid gametes that will be used in fertilization.
- Meiosis is important to, but not the same as, sexual reproduction. Meiosis is necessary for sexual reproduction to occur, as it results in the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs). However, sexual reproduction includes fertilization (the fusion between gametes), which is not part of the meiotic process.
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