Mitosis and Meiosis

Mitosis

  • Mitosis takes place everywhere in the body when:
    • an organism grows
    • damage, such as a cut, is being repaired
    • old or worn-out cells are replaced


  • Human cells have __________ chromosomes, this is the __________ number.

  • New cells are identical __________ of the orginal cell.
    During Mitosis the following can be observed:
  1. chromosomes coil up
  2. spindle forms
  3. chromosomes arrange along equator (of spindle)
  4. one chromatid from each chromosomes pulled to poles
  5. chromosomes uncoil nuclear membrane reforms
  6. cytokinesis/cell divides into two new cells

Meiosis

  • Meiosis takes place in __________ organs.

  • It makes the sex cells (__________)

  • Each sex cell (sperm or eggs) has __________ the number of chromosomes and so is called a __________. Human sex cells only have __________ chromosomes.

  • Meiosis involves two divisions. The first one makes a copy of the cells. The second division results in __________ new cells.
  • This means that when an egg and a sperm join together through __________ the new cell has __________ chromosomes.
  • When the chromosomes are copied, genes can crossover and so forming a new chromosome
  • The four daughter cells are not genetically identical. This can gives rise to variation between siblings and even non-identical twins.