Meiosis and the Genetic Basis of Sexual Reproduction

What is meiosis?

A type of nuclear division that occurs as part of reproduction that makes sperm and egg cells with half the number of chromosomes

What functions does meiosis serve?

Reducing the chromosome number and shuffling the chromosomes and genes to produce genetically different gametes

What are the two types of nuclear division in the human life cycle?

Mitosis, meiosis

What does mitosis do?

Ensures every body cell has 23 pairs of chromosomes

What are gametes?

An organism's reproductive cells, also known as sex cells

What are haploids?

A cell or organism that has only one single set of chromosomes

What are the two types of nuclear division of Meiosis?

Meiosis 1, Meiosis 2

What is meiosis 1?

The first round of cell division where a single diploid cells spits into two haploid cells, cutting the chromosome number in half

What is a diploid cell?

A cell that contains two complete sets of chromosomes

What is meiosis 2?

The second round of cell division where the sister chromatids separate to turn two cells into four unique sex cells

What can happen if the number of chromosomes change?

Nondisjunction accounts for the inheritance of an abnormal number of chromosomes

What is nondisjunction?

A mistake during cell division where chromosomes fail to separate properly