Sexual reproduction

Gametes

Cells called gametes are sex cells, such as eggs and sperm, that combine to produce offspring.

Meiosis

Meiosis is a process of cell division that occurs in females during the fetal stage and is completed during puberty. It produces gametes with half the number of chromosomes as body cells.

Meiosis 1

Meiosis 1 is the first round of cell division in meiosis, where homologous chromosomes separate.

Meiosis 2

Meiosis 2 is the second round of cell division in meiosis, where sister chromatids separate.

Gene shuffling

Gene shuffling occurs during meiosis and contributes to genetic variation or diversity by exchanging segments of DNA between non-sister chromatids from different chromosomes.

Sexual reproduction

Sexual reproduction involves two parents and results in offspring that are genetically different from each other, their parents, and other individuals of the same species.

Asexual reproduction

Asexual reproduction only requires one parent and does not involve meiosis.

Diploid

Body cells or somatic cells have a diploid number of chromosomes (2n), which means they have two sets of chromosomes.

Haploid

Sex cells or gametes have a haploid number of chromosomes (1n), which means they have half the number of chromosomes as body cells.

Fertilization

Fertilization occurs when a sperm (1n) penetrates an egg (1n), resulting in the formation of a zygote (2n).

Zygote

The zygote undergoes meiosis and cell division to form an embryo.

Crossing over

Crossing over is the exchange or switching of segments of DNA between non-sister chromatids from different chromosomes during prophase 1 of meiosis. It contributes to gene variations.

Interkinesis

Interkinesis, also known as interphase 2, is a phase of rest for cells in some species during meiosis 2. There is no DNA replication during this phase.