The significance of meiosis Grade 12 Life Sciences Study Notes. Meiosis is responsible for the formation of sex cells or gametes that are responsible for sexual reproduction. It activates the genetic information for the development of sex cells and deactivates the sporophytic information. It maintains the constant number of chromosomes by halving the same
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The significance of meiosis Grade 12 Life Sciences Study Notes
There are two reasons why meiosis is important.
- It reduces the number of chromosomes by half, in other words from diploid to haploid. This ensures that sex cells have half the number of chromosomes of other somatic cells so that when fertilisation occurs the zygote formed has the correct number of chromosomes. It balances the doubling effect of fertilisation.
- Crossing over introduces genetic variation. Genetic variation results in offspring that are better adapted to a particular environment and ensures that they will have a better chance of survival.
Meiosis:
- Meiosis is called reductional division.
- The resulting cells are haploid cells.
- It occurs in the germ cells of males and females.
- During meiosis, the germ cell splits into four new sex cells.
Significance of meiosis:
- Meiosis is a process that produces gametes.
- Due to meiosis, the chromosome number of organisms remains constant in each generation.
- It causes chromosome shuffling by recombination.
- It generates new combinations of features through crossing across.
- Due to abnormalities in the meiotic division, mutations occur.
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