New
New
Year 10
OCR
Foundation

Making gametes: meiosis

I can explain how a type of cell division called meiosis makes gametes for sexual reproduction.

New
New
Year 10
OCR
Foundation

Making gametes: meiosis

I can explain how a type of cell division called meiosis makes gametes for sexual reproduction.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. Reproduction is part of the life cycle of all organisms; sexual reproduction requires specialised cells called gametes.
  2. Gametes are made from body cells by a type of cell division called meiosis.
  3. During interphase the chromosomes are copied; meiosis follows this and includes two rounds of cell division.
  4. The gametes made by meiosis have half the usual number of chromosomes (one from each pair in the original body cell).
  5. Mitosis produces 2 genetically identical diploid cells, whereas meiosis produces 4 genetically different haploid cells.

Common misconception

Knowing the differences between mitosis and meiosis. In particular when they are used, the number of cell divisions and if variation is present.

The final learning cycle of the lesson serves to compare the features of mitosis and meiosis, this includes CFU questions and a practice task.

Keywords

  • Sexual reproduction - A type of reproduction that combines the genetic material of two organisms to produce genetically different offspring.

  • Gametes - An organism's sex cells that contain half the number of chromosomes.

  • Meiosis - A type of cell division that forms the gametes.

  • Chromosomes - Highly coiled strands of DNA found inside the nucleus of eukaryotic cells.

  • Haploid - A cell with half the number of chromosomes.

You can model the process of gametes fusing to form a zygote to show why gametes are haploid. A non-example could also be used to showcase what would happen if gametes were diploid.
Teacher tip

Equipment

None required.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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6 Questions

Q1.
Reproduction that involves two organisms is called ...
asexual reproduction
mitosis
Correct answer: sexual reproduction
Q2.
What is the name of the process where the sperm and the egg fuse together?
fusion
Correct answer: fertilisation
mitosis
meiosis
Q3.
What is the name of the cell that is produced by the fusing of the sperm and the egg during fertilisation?
gamete
embryo
Correct answer: zygote
Q4.
DNA is highly coiled to form the ...
nucleus.
Correct answer: chromosomes.
ribosomes.
Q5.
Put these stages of the cell cycle and cell division in order.
1 - DNA is copied
2 - chromosomes line up along the middle of the cell
3 - chromosomes are pulled to either end of the cell
4 - cell membrane and cytoplasm divide
5 - two new cells are produced
Q6.
Gametes are the name given to sex cells; what are the sex cells in humans?
pollen
Correct answer: egg
testes
Correct answer: sperm

6 Questions

Q1.
What word is used to describe the sex cells?
Correct Answer: gametes, gamete
Q2.
Match each process to the correct description.
Correct Answer:fertilisation,where the sperm and egg fuse to form the zygote

where the sperm and egg fuse to form the zygote

Correct Answer:meiosis,cell division that forms the gametes

cell division that forms the gametes

Correct Answer:sexual reproduction,involves two parents producing genetically different offspring

involves two parents producing genetically different offspring

Correct Answer:asexual reproduction,reproduction involving only one organism

reproduction involving only one organism

Q3.
Put the stages of meiosis into the correct order.
1 - The chromosomes line up and DNA is mixed.
2 - The first cell division occurs.
3 - Two diploid cells are produced.
4 - Cell division two occurs.
5 - Four haploid gametes are produced.
Q4.
What word is used to describe cells with half the number of chromosomes?
Correct Answer: haploid
Q5.
Which of the following are true for mitosis?
two cell divisions take place
Correct answer: two diploid cells are produced
Correct answer: cells produced are genetically identical
the gametes are formed by this process
Q6.
Which statements are true for meiosis?
Correct answer: DNA mixes causing variation
four diploid cells are produced
only one cell division occurs
Correct answer: the process is used to form the gametes