Meiosis Vocabulary
1. Haploid- A cell with only one set of chromosomes
2. Diploid- A cell with two sets of chromosomes (one maternal and one paternal)
3. Homologous chromosomes- Maternal and paternal copies of a chromosome with the
same sequence of genes, but with different alleles; pair during Prophase I
4. Gene- A segment of DNA that is located in a chromosome and that codes for a specific
hereditary trait
5. Chromatid- One of the two strands of a duplicated chromosome
6. Centromere- The region of the chromosome that holds the chromatids together
7. Interphase- Happens before meiosis; cell growth, DNA replication, and preparation for
division occur during this phase
8. Meiosis- A type of cell division; a 2N cell is divided into 4 unique 1N daughter cells,
which develop into the sex cells
9. Crossing-over- The exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes;
can result in genetic recombination
10.Tetrad/Synapse- The physical structure formed when homologous chromosomes crossover
11.Cytokinesis- Occurs after Meiosis I and Meiosis II; the division of the cytoplasm of the
cell
12.Sexual reproduction- Reproduction in which the gametes of two parents unite
13.Gamete- A sex cell (either sperm or egg)
14.Egg- The female gamete
15.Sperm- The male gamete
16.Reduction division- Also known as Meiosis I; when the chromosome number is reduced
from diploid to haploid
17.Fertilization- The union of a male and female gamete to form a zygote
18.Zygote- The cell that results from the fusion of gametes; a fertilized egg