Chapter 10, Problem 8A

Summary Introduction

To relate:

The terms meiosis, gametes and fertilization in one or more sentences

Introduction:

Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes; therefore it is referred to as a reduction division. While mitosis maintains the chromosome number, meiosis reduces the chromosome number by half. Meiosis involves two consecutive cell divisions called meiosis I and meiosis II.

Answer to Problem 8A

Gametes are produced by the process of meiosis. During fertilization, the haploid male gamete fuses with the haploid female gamete to produce a diploid zygote.

Explanation of Solution

Reproductive cells which pass on genetic traits from the parent to child are produced by the process of meiosis. In order to maintain the same number of chromosomes in each generation, an organism produces gametes. Gametes are sex cells and have half the number of chromosomes.

When one haploid gamete fuses with another haploid gamete, the process is called fertilization. A cell with n number of chromosomes is called a haploid cell. The result of fertilization is a diploid cell with 2n number of chromosomes; n chromosomes from male parent plus n chromosomes from female parent.

When a male gamete fuses with a female gamete, the process is called fertilization. Fertilization allows genetic variations in organisms.