Meiosis Questions/ Illustrative Activity (pg 323-327)
Biology
Baker
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. If the question number has an
asterisk next to it, answer the question and draw a picture to illustrate your answer. Be sure to
include labels as needed.
1. What is meiosis?
2. What type of cells undergoes meiosis?
3. How many cell divisions are in meiosis? Why do you think there needs to be 2 cell divisions versus just
one in mitosis?
4. Define the following terms:
a. Diploid
b. Haploid
e. Gametes
f. Fertilization
*c. Chromosomes
*d. Homologous Chromosome
g. Gonads
5. Write the number of chromosomes in a human cell as it goes through each the following stages in
meiosis:
a. Interphase (G1)
b. Interphase (S)
c. Meiosis I (Prophase)
d. Meiosis I (Metaphase)
e. Meiosis II (Prophase)
f. Meiosis II (Cytokinesis)
6. How many chromosomes are in normal human gametes? How many in normal somatic cells (body
cells)?
*7. Define Crossing Over pg 324
a. Would “gene shuffling” be an accurate description of crossing over? Explain.
b. Which stage in Meiosis does Crossing Over occur?
8. What is the diploid number of a normal human being? What is the haploid number of its gametes (sex
cells-egg and sperm)?
9. How are homologous chromosomes paired up?
*10. Define Independent Assortment of Chromosomes.
a. Which stage in Meiosis does Independent Assortment occur?
b. How does Independent Assortment of Chromosomes lead to “gene shuffling”?
*11. What is separating in Anaphase I? (Homologous Chromosomes or Sister Chromatids)
*12. What is separating in Anaphase II? (Homologous Chromosomes or Sister Chromatids)
Short answer questions to see if you understood the main ideas from the lesson:
13. Why do siblings (brothers and sisters) not look identical even though they are from the same gene
pool (same mother and father)?
14. What are the two main events that occur in meiosis that leads to the genetic variation in the
gametes?
15. How does meiosis produce haploid cells?
16. Where does meiosis occur in humans?
17. Compare the genetic information of the human gametes from meiosis and the somatic cells from
mitosis?
18. Draw a T-Chart. Label one column Mitosis and the other Meiosis. List at least 5 differences between
these two forms of cell division.