If gametes are the product of meiosis, then how can they undergo meiosis themselves?
Biology discussion, revision, exam and homework help.
-
- Reputation:
- Thread Starter
- Junior Member
- Posts: 71
If gametes are the product of meiosis, then how can they undergo meiosis themselves?Hello,
Just learned about meiosis, but a little confused. Here's my understanding:
You start off with a parent cell which has the full set of 46 chromosomes. The dna replicates itself before the cell divides once to produce two genetically identical daughter cells (such as mitosis) and then once again to form four genetically different gametes. Each gamete has 23 chromosomes.
So, if each gamete has 23 chromosomes, hence the sperm and ova cells, how can they actually divide by meiosis themselves? After having Googled "do gamete cells go through meiosis", I saw some responses saying that gametes undergo meiosis.
But surely, they're just the products and it's just the original parent cell which does?
Thanks in advance for any help! -
- Reputation:
- Adored and Respected Member
- Posts: 593
Re: If gametes are the product of meiosis, then how can they undergo meiosis themselvI assume the responses you read when you googled that meant they have gone through meiosis to become the gametes. Once a gamete has formed that's that, it goes on to be fertilised or whatever it doesn't go through any more cell division
-
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Location: South East
- Posts: 2,008
Re: If gametes are the product of meiosis, then how can they undergo meiosis themselvHi;
I'm not quite sure what you are asking for but, I am pretty sure the image I just scanned from my A level text book is pretty self explanatory. (Trust me anyone can understand it)
Look at the pictures, the text may be a bit difficult to understand, don't know what stage you are at at the moment. -
- Reputation:
- Overlord in Training
- Location: South East
- Posts: 2,008
Re: If gametes are the product of meiosis, then how can they undergo meiosis themselvHold on, I think I know what you are saying and you are somewhat confused.
A zygote is produced when two gametes join together. The zygote then goes onto replicate via mitosis and continuously replicates until you get to a faetus and then finally a baby.
Meiosis occures between sex sells as indicated in the diagram I scanned. Hence in Meiosis is the highlighted s which means for sex cells. -
- Reputation:
- Adored and Respected Member
- Location: London. Posts: 100,000
Re: If gametes are the product of meiosis, then how can they undergo meiosis themselvOk, for the production of gametes you start off with diploid cells. They are the germ line cells I believe.
Meiosis I is essentially just mitosis. There is replication blah blah 2 daughter cells with 46 each.
Meiosis II is where the daughter cells each divide into 2 hence you end up with 4 gametes. Be that sperm cells or egg cells.
There is no further division beyond this point I am pretty sure.Last edited by Ihategcse; 05-05-2012 at 12:15.
