1. SBI 3U - Unit 2 Genetics Plants and animals grow by mitosis Plants and animals form gametes via meiosis Gametes are haploid (n) containing ½ the chromosomes Diploid zygote (2n) forms when male and female gamete fuse Formation of sex cells during meiosis is called GAMETOGENSIS

2. SBI 3U - Unit 2 Genetics Production of sex cells is similar YET different for human female and male Male process is called SPERMATOGENSIS One meiosis division produces four haploid sperm cells each with 23 chromosomes (humans) Males make billions of sperm cells per day

3. SBI 3U - Unit 2 Genetics Female process is called OOGENSIS Meiotic division produces only one haploid egg cell called an OVUM Three other cells, POLAR BODIES, contain all the genetic information of a haploid but lack enough cytoplasm to survive Unequal distribution of the cytoplasm is needed to fuel initial cell division in the event the egg cell is fertilized QUESTION – What happens to the polar bodies?