Week 1 Reflection

This week I learned about meiosis and sexual reproduction. I learned that mitosis is the growth and regeneration of new cells, and meiosis is creating sex cells. Mitosis occurs in all body cells, while meiosis occurs in sex cells, such as the ovaries and testicles. In mitosis there are four phases, and one cell division. In meiosis there are eight phases and two cell divisions. I learned that the zygote produced is diploid. Mitosis results in two daughter cells, and meiosis results in four daughter cells. Diploid is the full set (46 chromosomes), and haploid is half the regular number (23 chromosomes). I also learned that crossing-over occurs in prophase 1, if it does happen. I learned that both chromosomes of a pair carry "matching" genes, and control the same inherited characters. If we want to reproduce, it is the joining of egg and sperm. I learned that chromosomes are organized by size (usually largest to smallest).