Why is meiosis

important anyways?

Meiosis leads to genetic

variation
Ingenetic variation, thegenesof organisms within a
population change. Gene alleles determine distinct traits
that can be passed on from parents to offspring

Genetic variation
Is advantageous for a population
example: polar bear in the Artic
Made possible by sexual reproduction, which rearranges
existing genes.
Meiosis is the process that occurs to make rearranging
genes possible

Three contributions to genetic

variation
Crossing-over: during prophase I
Independent assortment: during metaphase I
Random fertilization: joining of two gametes

Crossing-over
Crossing-over- the exchange of genes between
homologous chromosomes, resulting in a mixture of
parental characteristics in offspring.
Crossing-over creates completely new combinations of
traits on each chromosome.

Independent assortment
Independent assortment- the random distribution of
the pairs of genes on different chromosomes to the
gametes.
There are 2 (more than 8 million) possibilities for the
gene combinations in gametes that form from a single
original cell

Random Fertilization
Fertilization is a random process that adds genetic
variation. The zygote that forms is made by the random
joining of two gametes.

Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RM_AjkXof1o

Now we know why meiosis is

important, but why do we care
about genetic variation?

Genetic diversityplays animportantrole in the survival

and adaptability of a species. When a population's
habitat changes, the population may have to adapt to
survive; the ability of the population to adapt to the
changing environment will determine their ability to cope
with an environmental challenge.

Assignment
Make a simulation that explains one of the three
contributions to genetic variation: crossing-over,
independent assortment, or random fertilization.
Follow the guidelines on the handout