Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis

Flashcards covering key concepts related to sexual reproduction, fertilization, meiosis, and genetic diversity.

Sexual Reproduction

Occurs when a male gamete (sperm) and a female gamete (egg) join to form a genetically unique organism (zygote).

Mating

The process of gametes arriving in the same place at the same time for fertilization to occur.

Fertilization

The union of a sperm cell and an egg cell.

External Fertilization

A type of fertilization where sperm and egg unite outside the bodies of the parents, common in aquatic animals.

Internal Fertilization

A type of fertilization where sperm is deposited inside the female's body where it meets the egg cell.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen (male gametes) from the male part to the female part of a plant, facilitating fertilization.

Embryo

A multicellular organism that develops from a zygote during prenatal development.

Meiosis

The process that produces haploid gametes from a diploid parent cell, crucial for sexual reproduction.

Diploid Number

The total number of chromosomes in a body cell (2n), containing two sets of chromosomes.

Haploid Number

The number of chromosomes in a gamete cell (n), containing one set of chromosomes.

Crossing Over

A process during meiosis I where chromatids of homologous chromosomes exchange segments of DNA, leading to genetic diversity.

Independent Assortment

The random distribution of homologous chromosome pairs during meiosis, contributing to genetic variation.