BRAINCAKESexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction involves the fusion of two gametes (sex cells), usually from two different parents, to form a single cell called a zygote. The zygote then divides by mitosis to develop into a new individual. The fusion of gametes is called fertilisation.
Gametes are haploid (n): they contain one set of chromosomes. Body cells are diploid (2n), with two sets, one inherited from each parent. When two haploid gametes fuse, the diploid number is restored:
n + n = 2n
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Key terms in this lesson
- natural selection
- The process by which organisms with characteristics better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce.
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