Meiosis Tutorial

Asexual (Vegetative) Reproduction

A form of duplication using only mitosis.
Example, a new plant grows out of the root or a shoot from an existing plant.
Produces only genetically identical offspring since all divisions are by mitosis.
1. offspring called clones meaning that each is an exact copy of the original organism
2. this method of reproduction is rapid and effective allowing the spread of an organism
3. Since the offspring are identical, there is no mechanism for introducing diversity

Sexual reproduction

Formation of new individual by a combination of two haploid sex cells (gametes).
Fertilization- combination of genetic information from two separate cells that have one half the original genetic information
Gametes for fertilization usually come from separate parents
1. Female- produces an egg
2. Male produces sperm
Both gametes are haploid, with a single set of chromosomes
The new individual is called a zygote, with two sets of chromosomes (diploid).
Meiosis is a process to convert a diploid cell to a haploid gamete, and cause a change in the genetic information to increase diversity in the offspring.

The Biology Project
The University of Arizona
Revised: November 24, 1999
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