Students should be able to explain how meiosis halves the number of chromosomes in gametes and fertilisation restores the full number of chromosomes.
Cells in reproductive organs divide by meiosis to form gametes.
When a cell divides to form gametes:
- copies of the genetic information are made
- the cell divides twice to form four gametes, each with a single set of chromosomes
- all gametes are genetically different from each other.
Gametes join at fertilisation to restore the normal number of chromosomes. The new cell divides by mitosis. The number of cells increases. As the embryo develops cells differentiate.
Knowledge of the stages of meiosis is not required.