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Vocabulary Terms for Meiosis
1. Germ Cell-Reproductive cells which go through meiosis, two cell divisions, and create gamates.
2. Somatic Cells-body cell that has 46 chromosomes and go through mitosis to create two identical daughter cells
3. Gamates-sex cells (eggs and sperm) which have 23 chromosomes
4. Meiosis 1 and Meiosis 2-two phases of meiosis. In Meiosis 1, crossover occurs during Prophase 1, which mixes the chromosomes between
the mother and father. In Meiosis 2 a second nuclear division creates a total of 4 cells with 23 chromosomes. Each daughter cell is different
due to crossover in Meiosis 1.
5. Homologous chromosomes-A pair of chromosomes, one from the mother and one from the father with genes in the same location
6. Crossover-a random transfer of genes when homologous chromosomes exchange sections during Prohase I. This creates gametes which
are genetically unique.
7. Egg-Female gamete or sex cell, 23 chromosomes and product of meiosis
8. Sperm-Male gamete or sex cell, 23 chromosomes and product of meiosis
9. Zygote-A fertilized egg or the cell which forms when an egg and sperm combine, 46 chromosomes
10. Fertilization-The process where an egg and sperm combine to form a gamate
11. Non-Identical daughter cells-created from crossover or mixing/exchange of chromosome sections which occurs in Prophase 1 of meiosis
12. 46 to 23 chromosomes-Meiosis reduces the chromosome count from 46 to 23 after the second nuclear division (Meiosis II)