AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The sperm and egg are specialised cells called gametes and are unique in comparison to most of the other cells in the body, as they only contain half the usual number of chromosomes. At fertilisation, half of your father’s genome is mixed with half of your mother’s genome to form your complete genome.

Detailed explanation-2: -In sexually reproducing organisms, each parent contributes half of the genes acquired (at random) by the offspring. Individuals have two of each chromosome and hence two alleles of each gene, one acquired from each parent.

Detailed explanation-3: -Gametes are produced by a type of cell division known as meiosis. It’s meiosis that reduces the number of chromosomes in the cell down to 23. It’s also meiosis that makes gametes genetically different from one another. After the cell division takes place, each sperm and each egg has its own unique genetic makeup.

Detailed explanation-4: -The genetically identical offsprings formed by asexual reproduction are called clones.