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This lesson covers the process of meiosis and how it generates genetic variation, as required by the Edexcel A-Level Biology specification (9BI0, Topic 8).
Meiosis is a type of cell division that produces four genetically different haploid cells (gametes) from a single diploid parent cell. It involves two successive divisions — meiosis I and meiosis II — and is essential for sexual reproduction.
| Feature | Mitosis | Meiosis |
|---|---|---|
| Number of divisions | 1 | 2 |
| Number of daughter cells | 2 | 4 |
| Ploidy of daughter cells | Diploid (2n) | Haploid (n) |
| Genetic variation | Daughter cells are genetically identical | Daughter cells are genetically different |
| Where it occurs | Somatic cells | Reproductive organs (gonads) |
| Purpose | Growth, repair | Production of gametes |
Meiosis I separates homologous chromosome pairs (one from each parent). The chromosome number is halved from diploid (2n) to haploid (n).
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