How does one cell become two — or four? Explore the cell cycle and the two very different types of cell division.
Human body (somatic) cells are diploid, containing 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). Gametes (sperm and egg cells) are haploid, containing only 23 chromosomes.
How many chromosomes does a human skin cell contain?
46 (23 pairs) — it is a diploid somatic cell
Mitosis produces 2 genetically identical diploid daughter cells, used for growth and repair. Meiosis produces 4 genetically distinct haploid daughter cells (gametes), used for sexual reproduction.
Why must gametes be haploid (23 chromosomes) rather than diploid (46)?
So that when a sperm and egg combine during fertilisation, the resulting cell has the correct diploid number (46), not double that
1. How many chromosomes are in a human gamete?
2. How many daughter cells does mitosis produce, and are they identical?
3. How many daughter cells does meiosis produce?
4. Which type of cell division is used for growth and tissue repair?
5. Why does meiosis create genetic variation while mitosis does not?
6. How many chromosomes are in a normal human body (somatic) cell?
7. What happens to the DNA during interphase?
8. Are the daughter cells produced by meiosis haploid or diploid?
9. What is a chromosome made of?
10. Why must gametes carry half the normal chromosome number?