Who am I?: Meiosis

Meiosis

Cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms

mitosis

cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes

homologous chromosomes (pair)

Chromosomes that have the same sequence of genes and the same structure

sister chromatids

joined copies of the original chromosome

Crossing over/recombination

exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes

Nondisjunction

Error in meiosis in which homologous chromosomes fail to separate.

Karyotype

A picture of all the chromosomes in a cell arranged in pairs

sex chromosomes

Chromosomes that determine the sex of an individual X and Y)

Gamete

sex cell created during meiosis

genetic diversity

the variety of genes within a given species

sexual reproduction

Process by which cells from two different parents unite to produce the first cell of a new organism.

autosome

Any chromosome that is not a sex chromosome

Somatic cell

body cell

Fertilization

Fusion of an egg and sperm cell

Haploid

having a single set of unpaired chromosomes

Diploid

2 sets of chromosomes

independent assortment

One of Mendel's principles that states that genes for different traits can segregate independently during the formation of gametes

sexual reproduction

A reproductive process that involves two parents that combine their genetic material to produce a new organism, which differs from both parents

asexual reproduction

Process by which a single parent reproduces by itself

germ-line mutation

a mutation occurring in gametes; passed on to offspring