Meiosis Modeling/Variation Potential
Name:
Date:
Period/Block:
Directions: Sketch the events of meiosis I and meiosis II and answer the questions as instructed. Pay close
attention to the chromosomes and their color patterns.
Father’s Chromosomes
Prophase I
Mother’s Chromosomes
What other structures
are required to
choreograph the
process of meiosis?
Describe what you
observe in the cell to the
left (use the term: crossing
over).
Sketch the structures
and place them in
their proper locations
as you continue
through the process
(for each cell)!
Metaphase I
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Describe what you
observe in the cell to the
left (use the term:
independent assortment).
Anaphase I
Describe what you
observe in the cell to the
right (use the term: sister
chromatids).
From this point, sketch both
the chromosomes and other
accessory structures as they
continue through the
process. Hint: Observe the
completed gamete.
Telophase I/
Cytokinesis
Prophase II
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Metaphase II
Anaphase II
Telophase II/
Cytokinesis
Questions:
1. Compare the 4 cells at the end of the process to the original cell at the beginning of the process. How
are the cells different at the chromosomal level? Use the terms: diploid, haploid, parent cell, daughter
cells, and gamete.
2. Mitosis produces identical daughter cells at the genetic level. How does meiosis produce cells with
variations?
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3. There are three mechanisms that guarantee unique combinations of traits in the daughter cells
(gametes). Describe below how each mechanism achieves its goal.
a. Crossing over –
b. Independent Assortment –
c. Random Fertilization –
4. Human fertilization (combination of sperm and egg) results in a zygote containing a subset of 60-70
trillion potential diploid combinations. How does this demonstrate evidence of God’s creativity,
wisdom, purposeful design, and beauty?
5. The process of naturalistic evolution must explain how all variations originally came from mutational
events. Do you think this is a likely scenario? Explain!
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