Meiosis and Sexual Reproduction Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key terms and concepts related to meiosis and sexual reproduction as outlined in the lecture notes.

Meiosis

A special type of cell division that produces haploid gametes for sexual reproduction.

Gametes

Haploid reproductive cells that fuse during fertilization to form a diploid zygote.

Diploid (2n)

Cells that contain two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.

Haploid (n)

Cells that contain only one set of chromosomes.

Homologous chromosomes

Chromosomes that have the same length, shape, and gene sequence, with one from each parent.

Alleles

Variant forms of a gene that exist in a population.

Crossing-over

The exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids during meiosis.

Independent assortment

The random distribution of homologous chromosomes during meiosis.

Nondisjunction

Failure of chromosomes to separate properly during cell division, leading to an abnormal number of chromosomes.

Trisomy

A condition where an individual has three copies of a particular chromosome, such as trisomy 21 (Down syndrome).

Spermatogenesis

The process of sperm production that takes place in the testes.

Oogenesis

The process of egg production that occurs in the ovaries.

Euploidy

The normal number of chromosomes in a species.

Aneuploidy

An abnormal number of chromosomes in a cell, caused by nondisjunction.