Exploring Meiosis
1. To begin go to http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/how-cells-divide.html or Google “Nova
How Cells Divide” and click on the first link. While on this site you and your partner will review
the steps of mitosis as well as meiosis in a side by side comparison.
a. Once here click “launch interactive”
b. Work through the steps of meiosis being sure to read about the events that occur in
each phase of gamete development. Feel free to take notes.
c. When you have finished answer the following questions (1 set of answers per group
on notebook paper. These questions must be turned in at the end of class and will be
graded based on the quality of your responses.
Questions to answer
i. Sketch a flow chart or diagram to show the big picture differences between
mitosis and meiosis (rounds of division, products, etc).
ii. Explain what happens in prophase I of meiosis that is not observed during
prophase in mitosis. Feel free to draw this event to help you explain what is
occurring. Conduct a Google search to find the term that defines this process
then explain why this event is important in sex cell development.
iii. Explain how metaphase I and anaphase I of meiosis are different from
metaphase and anaphase in mitosis. Explain why these differences are
necessary in gamete production.
iv. Two sets of identical twins marry and conceive children. Given the fact that the
male and female in each relationship has identical DNA explain why they
should or should not expect their children to be identical twins. You must justify
your answer with three scientifically reasonable explanations as to why their
children would be different.
v. (from part 2 but answer on the same paper as the meiosis questions) What is a
karyotype, how is it prepared, and what information can it tell you about the
individual that the tissue sample was taken from?
2. Once you and your partner have finished reviewing the stages of meiosis and critically thinking
about why those differences are important in haploid cell development for the purposes of
sexual reproduction look at the karyotype that you have been given. Genetic diseases are
classified into chromosomal abnormalities and genetic mutations. Genetic mutations will be
discussed in later chapters but the karyotype that you have been given shows you a disease
that has been caused by a chromosomal abnormality. First educate yourself about karyotyping
and answer question 5 in the questions to answer section above then determine what is not
correct about the karyotype that you have been given. Research that disease to learn the
answers to the following questions:
Essential Questions to Answer:
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What is it?
What is the history of the disorder (how was it discovered, by whom, ect., when)?
What are the symptoms of the disorder?
What are the statistics of the disorder (how many people are affected, who is affected by it)?
What goes wrong during meiosis to cause the disorder?
Are there any treatments?
What is the prognosis for a person living with this condition (life expectancy, disabilities, ability
to reproduce, etc)
Disease
Signs/Symptoms
Statistics
Why happens
Treatments
Prognosis