2006-11-12 08:30:12 · 9 answers · asked by RACHEL D 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Meiosis results in the production of haploid cells, with half of the regular number of chromosomes (23 singles onstead of 23 pairs). These mature into the male and female gametes, which then go off and try to find a complementary set of the opposite sex to hook up with, to become whole again. Hence meiosis allows for genetic coupling of non-identical DNA, resulting in an offspring which has the genetic material of two separate individuals. With only mitotis, there is no sharing of material, just division.
Sharing of material allows for diversity within a population. Populations which are diverse are more likely to survive variations in environment, to have people who can protect others if need be, who can lead if need be, who might have inate resistance to diseases if need be etc etc. So the whole population benefits because of the diversity afforded by meiosis. Clonal populations, produced by mitotis alone, would eventually come across a disease or natural disaster which would affect everyone equally, wiping them all out.
Hope this helps.
2006-11-12 08:52:04 · answer #1 · answered by Labsci 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
During meiosis the process of recombination creates chromosomes with new combinations of alleles and the result is unique gametes. The individuals that result from these gametes are all different and so the population contains genetic variation.
Genetic variation is the raw material for natural selection. Some individuals, by nature of the alleles they carry have a greater fitness than others and will be favoured by natural selection. Simply watching a wildlife programme will confirm this, individuals that are too small & weak, or males that are unable to compete for mates for example, succumb to predation or disease or fail to reproduce. The population benefits because as a whole it becomes better adapted to the environment, is made up of fit individuals and continues into the next generation.
However, the real benefit to populations of being genetically variable is that they are able to adapt to changes in the environment in a way that clonal asexual populations cannot without mutation. In the short term this might be something such as disease, in which some individuals will be at least partially resistant while others are susceptible. Over the longer term populations can adapt to changes in the environment because there will always be genetic variants which can survive in new conditions.
2006-11-13 07:21:26 · answer #2 · answered by ? 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Meiosis shuffles the genetic information that an individual has into totally new combinations in its gametes. Not only do you make new combinations of chromosomes from your two parents, but because of genetic recombination, even the information on your chromosomes is combined into new combinations. So, any individual has the ability to produce a nearly infinite number of genetically unique and different gametes.
All of this insures that when offspring are produced, each offspring is unique and different, and has combinations of genes never seen before. This keeps the genetic diversity of a population very high.
2006-11-12 16:41:50 · answer #3 · answered by hcbiochem 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Meiosis is very important, especially when contradistinguished from mitosis.
As you know mitosis is the simple division of a cell. That is what happens as growth occurs and as cells are replaced.
Meiosis is important is a bigger way. If you peer closely at the process you will see that it's a whole different way for cells to divide and only takes place in those cells that want to make a baby.
Am I boring you?
2006-11-12 16:38:09 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It allows for fertilization to occur so if meiosis did not occur the population would not exist
2006-11-12 16:40:26 · answer #5 · answered by nikny 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It maintains the identity of the race in the population.
2006-11-12 19:12:36 · answer #6 · answered by moosa 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Genetic recombination for population diversity, otherwise everyone would be the same
2006-11-12 16:49:04 · answer #7 · answered by Niotulove 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
the process of cell division among sex cell gametes
well 23 chromosomes are from you father and 23 from your mother and there are nearly infinate combinations
cell mutations and dominate and recessive genes
it determines what and who you are
2006-11-12 16:34:00 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
i think its a disease to eradicate cats.
a bit like myxamatosis in rabbitz.
2006-11-12 16:37:54 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋