Mitosis and Meiosis
Mitosis
Meiosis
Mitosis
Meiosis
Meiosis and Mitosis
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The nucleus located inside the cells of your body
contains chromosomes, and each chromosome carries
many genes. Genes contain coded hereditary
information that determine your traits like hair color, height and everything else you see when you look
in a mirror. We get these chromosomes from our parents, but first our parents have to make gametes
(sex cells) so they can make you. These gametes are made through a process called Meiosis. Meiosis is
one of two types of cell division. The other type is called mitosis and in this packet you will look at the
difference.
Critical Analysis Questions
1. What are the two types of cell division shown in the model (Figure 1)? Circle them above.
2. Which type of cell division produces:
• Daughter cells that contain the same number and kinds of chromosomes as the parent cell?
• Gametes (daughter cells called egg or and sperm)?
4. In Figure 1, how many pairs of chromosomes are present in…
• The parent cell? ____
• The cells produced by mitosis? ______
• The cells produced by meiosis? ______
5. What do members of a pair of chromosomes have in common?
7. Compare the amount of genetic material (number of chromosomes) in the parent cell with the
amount of genetic information in a gamete (egg or sperm).
8. Based on the Model, does it appear that all of the egg cells produced by meiosis contain the same
genetic information? Explain.
9. The parent cell shown below contains three pairs of chromosomes. In each of the circles provided,
draw possible chromosome contents for four different cells produced by normal meiosis.
READ ME!!
Cells that contain two copies of each type of chromosomes are said to be diploid.
Cells containing only one copy of each chromosome are said to be haploid.
10. In the picture on the previous page, label the cell or cells that are diploid and those that are haploid.
Humans!!
Mitosis and Meiosis
Humans have a total of 46 chromosomes that we get from our parents through sexual
reproduction. Each parent gives us 23 chromosomes meaning that we each end up with 23 pairs of
chromosomes. So do we use mitosis? Or Meiosis?
The answer is we actually use BOTH! Crazy! You see, humans have two different groups of cells.
First there are Somatic Cells. Somatic cells make up your body. Your hair, skin, bones, muscles, eyes
and even your brain are made of somatic cells. These cells reproduce using mitosis so that each
daughter cell is an exact clone. This makes sense when you think about it because when you heal a
wound or grow you have to make sure the new cells have all 46 chromosomes.
Then there are the sex cells also called Gametes. Gametes are the cells responsible for
reproduction and creating new humans to continue the species. Gametes are produced through
meiosis which means each gamete has only 23 chromosomes. This makes sense also. This way when
two gametes fuse together to make a new child you will have 46 chromosomes.
1. How many chromosomes do humans have from their parent’s total?
a. How many do we get from our mom? __________________
b. How many do we get from our dad? __________________
2. Define…
a. Somatic Cells
b. Gametes
3. When do humans use mitosis? WHY??
4. When do humans use meiosis? WHY??