In our last unit, you used a toothpick to scrape cells from the inside of your cheek.

Question

Were these diploid cells or haploid cells? ____.
How many chromosomes did they contain? ____.

Answer in a few words and make it sound as human as possible.

Answer 1

Those were diploid cells. They contained 46 chromosomes.

Answer 2

For each of the following, write mitosis of meiosis. (You can abbreviate "Mit" or "Mei"):

____ Makes 4 cells.
____ Makes 2 cells.
____ Makes haploid cells.
____ Makes somatic cells.
____ Makes gametes.
____ Cells divides once.
____ Cells divides twice.
____ Makes diploid cells.
____ Happens during growth.
____ Produces sex cells.

Answer 3

• Mei Makes 4 cells.
• Mit Makes 2 cells.
• Mei Makes haploid cells.
• Mit Makes somatic cells.
• Mei Makes gametes.
• Mit Cells divide once.
• Mei Cells divide twice.
• Mit Makes diploid cells.
• Mit Happens during growth.
• Mei Produces sex cells.

Answer 4

1. What is fertilization?

2. What are gametes?

Answer in no more than a few words and make it sound as human as possible.

Answer 5

1. Fertilization is the fusion of sperm and egg.
2. Gametes are reproductive cells (sperm and eggs).

Answer 6

What do the words "diploid" and "haploid" mean? Answer in no more than a few words and make it sound as human as possible.

Answer 7

"Diploid" means two sets of chromosomes, while "haploid" means one set.

Answer 8

9. What would happen if gametes were diploid instead of haploid? (Think about how many chromosomes the zygote would have.)

10. Explain why it is so important for gametes to be haploid. (Talk about what would happen if they were not haploid.)

Answer in no more than a few words and make it sound as human as possible.

Answer 9

9. The zygote would have double the normal number of chromosomes, likely causing problems.

10. If gametes weren't haploid, the zygote would end up with too many chromosomes, leading to developmental issues or failure.