1/23/10

During this past week in Science we learned about Meiosis.

At the beginning of this week we decided that we needed to find the answers to certain questions in order to understand meiosis.

Another word for meiosis is Asextual reproduction. We learned about meiosis by going online and researching it. When we went to cells alive, it showed us the pictures or a stimulous of the process, and it gave a short description of what happens during each of the phases. We learned that the phases are: Diploid cell, Prophase 1, Metaphase 1, Anaphase1, Telophase 1, Prophase 2, Metaphase 2, Anaphase 2, Telophase 2, and Gamete. Also, we learned Meiosis makes four replicated cells that each have a nucleus, chromosomes, and DNA.

What Meiosis really is, is the process of cell replication for sperm and egg cells. It makes the cells so they have reduced DNA. It has two parts and makes 4 daughter cells, unlike mitosis which makes 2 daughter cells.

We should know this because it is the process that takes place in cells in our bodies.

This week we also learned about autosomes. Humans have 46 chromosomes. 23 from their mom and 23 from their dad. 44 of these chromosomes are autosomes. Autosomes are really just chromosomes. 22 are from the mom and 22 are from the dad. The other two chromosomes are sex chromosomes (1 from each parent). The mom always give and X and the dad either gives an X or a Y which decides which gender the baby is.