17.3

Meiosis

Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610)  · Unit 17: Inheritance  · 9 flashcards

Meiosis is topic 17.3 in the Cambridge IGCSE Biology (0610) syllabus , positioned in Unit 17 — Inheritance , alongside Chromosomes, genes and proteins, Mitosis and Monohybrid inheritance.  In one line: Meiosis is a type of cell division called reduction division. It reduces the number of chromosomes by half.

This topic is examined in Paper 1 (multiple-choice) and Papers 3/4 (theory), plus Paper 5 or Paper 6 (practical / alternative to practical).  It is a Supplement (Extended-tier) topic, so it appears only on the Extended-tier papers.

The deck below contains 9 flashcards — 2 definitions, 6 key concepts and 1 process card — covering the precise wording mark schemes reward.  Use the 2 definition cards to lock down command-word answers (define, state), then move on to the concept and application cards to handle explain, describe and compare questions.

Key definition

What type of cell division is meiosis

Meiosis is a type of cell division called reduction division. It reduces the number of chromosomes by half.

Example: in humans, diploid cells (46 chromosomes) become haploid gametes (23 chromosomes).

What the Cambridge 0610 syllabus says

Official 2026-2028 spec

These are the exact learning objectives Cambridge sets for this topic. Match the command word (Describe, Explain, State, etc.) in your answer to score full marks.

  1. State State that meiosis is involved in the production of gametes Supplement
  2. Describe Describe meiosis as a reduction division in which the chromosome number is halved from diploid to haploid resulting in genetically different cells (details of the stages of meiosis are not required) Supplement
Definition Flip

What type of cell division is meiosis?

Answer Flip

Meiosis is a type of cell division called reduction division. It reduces the number of chromosomes by half.

Example: in humans, diploid cells (46 chromosomes) become haploid gametes (23 chromosomes).
Key Concept Flip

What is the main purpose of meiosis in sexually reproducing organisms?

Answer Flip

The primary purpose of meiosis is to produce gametes (sex cells) that are haploid. This ensures that when fertilization occurs, the resulting offspring will have the correct diploid number of chromosomes. An example is the production of sperm and egg cells in animals.

Key Concept Flip

What is the outcome of meiosis in terms of chromosome number?

Answer Flip

Meiosis halves the chromosome number. A diploid cell (2n) undergoes meiosis to produce four haploid (n) cells.

Example: a human diploid cell (2n=46) will produce haploid gametes with 23 chromosomes.
Key Concept Flip

Why are the cells produced by meiosis genetically different?

Answer Flip

Meiosis results in genetically different cells due to processes like crossing over and independent assortment of chromosomes. This genetic variation is crucial for evolution. For instance, no two human sperm or egg cells are exactly alike.

Key Concept Flip

In which organisms does meiosis occur?

Answer Flip

Meiosis occurs in sexually reproducing organisms, including animals, plants, and fungi. It is essential for the production of gametes (sex cells).

Example: Meiosis occurs in the anthers of a lily to produce pollen grains and the ovaries to produce egg cells.
Definition Flip

What are gametes, and how are they produced?

Answer Flip

Gametes are sex cells (sperm and egg in animals, pollen and ovules in plants). They are produced through meiosis, a process that reduces the chromosome number by half.

Example: sperm cells in the testes of a male mammal, or egg cells in the ovaries of a female mammal.
Key Concept Flip

Explain the significance of halving the chromosome number during meiosis.

Answer Flip

Halving the chromosome number ensures that when two gametes fuse during fertilization, the offspring receives the correct number of chromosomes for that species.

Example: Human sperm (23 chromosomes) + egg (23 chromosomes) = zygote (46 chromosomes).
Key Concept Flip

Where does meiosis take place in flowering plants?

Answer Flip

In flowering plants, meiosis occurs in the anthers (to produce pollen grains) and the ovules (to produce egg cells). This ensures that the pollen and egg have a haploid number of chromosomes. An example is the production of pollen in a tulip.

Key Concept Flip

What is the chromosome number of a human gamete?

Answer Flip

Human gametes (sperm and egg) are haploid and contain 23 chromosomes. This is half the number of chromosomes found in human somatic (body) cells, which contain 46 chromosomes (diploid).

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17.2 Mitosis 17.4 Monohybrid inheritance

Key Questions: Meiosis

What type of cell division is meiosis?

Meiosis is a type of cell division called reduction division. It reduces the number of chromosomes by half.

Example: in humans, diploid cells (46 chromosomes) become haploid gametes (23 chromosomes).
What are gametes, and how are they produced?

Gametes are sex cells (sperm and egg in animals, pollen and ovules in plants). They are produced through meiosis, a process that reduces the chromosome number by half.

Example: sperm cells in the testes of a male mammal, or egg cells in the ovaries of a female mammal.

More topics in Unit 17 — Inheritance

Meiosis sits alongside these Biology decks in the same syllabus unit. Each uses the same spaced-repetition system, so progress in one informs the next.

17.1 Chromosomes, genes and proteins

12 flashcards
17.2 Mitosis

9 flashcards
17.4 Monohybrid inheritance

12 flashcards

Cambridge syllabus keywords to use in your answers

These are the official Cambridge 0610 terms tagged to this section. Mark schemes credit responses that use the exact term — weave them into your answers verbatim rather than paraphrasing.

meiosis gamete haploid diploid chromosome variation crossing over independent assortment

Key terms covered in this Meiosis deck

Every term below is defined in the flashcards above. Use the list as a quick recall test before your exam — if you can't define one of these in your own words, flip back to that card.

What type of cell division is meiosis
Gametes, and how are they produced

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How to study this Meiosis deck

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