1. Sexual Reproduction
Involves the fusion of nuclear material from two cells called gametes (sperm and egg)

2. Meiosis is a special type of cell division by which the gametes (sperm and egg) are produced

3. Production of sperm is called spermatogenesis and occurs in the testes

4. Production of egg cells is called oogenesis and occurs in the ovaries

5. Meiosis is necessary for sexual reproduction to occur because it reduces the number of chromosomes before fertilization takes place
Because of meiosis, the gametes have half the normal number of chromosomes (haploid)

6. The stages of meiosis are similar to mitosis but there are 2 cell divisions in meiosis and one in mitosis

7. Meiosis(Spermatogenesis)
In spermatogenesis cell division is equal and results in the production of 4 equal sized sperm cells with flagella

8. Meiosis (oogenesis)
In oogenesis cell division is unequal, resulting in 1 large egg cell and 3 non functional polar bodies

10. Terms
Homologous chromosomes: a pair of chromosomes that have the same size and shape and carry the same type of genetic information
One in the pair came from the male and one from the female

11. Human chromosomes arranged in homologous pairs

12. Terms
Synapsis- during meiosis homologous chromosomes join together to form tetrads
tetrads- group of 4 chromotids

13. Terms
Crossing over- during synapsis the chromosomes wrap around each other and exchange segments( genetic information)

14. Crossing Over

15. Importance of Meiosis
The production of sperm and egg cells that have half the normal number of chromosomes

16. Importance of Meiosis
Meiosis allows for variations

17. Variations
Variations in offspring may occur due to the random way in which the chromosomes line up during meiosis

18. Variations
Variations may occur due to crossing over