Theoretically, what would happen if meiosis did not occur and sperm and egg cells could only form from mitosis

Answer 1

Well, if the sperm was haploid and then egg was haploid then upon joining you would get a tetraploid. I'm assuming, that after this, the cell would probably divide by miosis so you would have an embryo made of two haploid cells. I can't think of any off the top of my head, but there may be some organisms that do this. Check with your teacher, they would probably know if there were any.

Answer 2

1. There are multicellular organisms that can reproduce without meiosis, and they reproduce asexually. Basically, the offspring is genetically identical to the parents. It's like cloning itself. (no genetic variation).

2. There are plants and animals that can also reproduce without meiosis. In animals asexual production usually by "budding" off of mass of cells and grow into individuals by mitosis processes. (I think this is how the sponges reproduce).

However:

3. If there is no meiosis stages, then sperm and eggs would not exist.

4. Sperm and eggs would not be called sperm and eggs without going through meiosis stages. This is because mitosis can only produce diploid cells not haploid cells like sperm and eggs.

5. There would be no genetic variation if there is no sperm and eggs. Meiosis process play important role in genetic variation by allowing crossing over and recombination of genes.

6. Thus, there would be no or less diversity of living organisms on earth. The diversity of living organisms is possible through genetic variation.

7. Disease could sweep out the whole population of species with genetic identical. Thus, it's good to have genetic variation. (but of course there is advantage of asexual reproduction such as not wasting energy to find mates and they can reproduce rapidly).

Other exceptions:

Even if there is meiosis and gametes produce, there maybe a repduction without "sex", that is no firtilization of sperm and eggs. For example, many insects such as bees, males bees are developed from unfirtilize eggs. And they are hapoid males. This is a process called "parthenogenesis".

Answer 3

Do your own home work.