Every cell in our body has a diploid number of chromosomes. These cells contain 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes. Only gametes (sperm and eggs) are haploid, which means that these cells contain 23 chromosomes. Since we inherit one set of chromosomes from a father and the other one from a mother, that would make a total of 46 chromosomes.

Meiosis consists of meiosis I and II. Meiosis I consists of prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I, telophase I and cytokinesis. In prophase I, chromosomes are paired with the adequate homologous chromosome. In this phase occurs a crossover, which is an interchange of DNA material within the homologous chromosomes. This process induces genetic diversity. In metaphase I, chromosomes are aligned in the center of the cell. During anaphase I, two sets of chromosomes move toward the opposite ends of the cell. In telophase I and cytokinesis, this cell divides into two cells, while the nucleus is formed around chromosomes of each cell. Therefore, in the first phase, the diploid cell is divided into two haploid cells. Meiosis II consists of prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, telophase II and cytokinesis. In prophase II, each chromosome contain two chromatids. In metaphase II, chromosomes are aligned in the center of the cell. During anaphase II, paired chromatids are divided and they move toward the opposite ends of the cell. In telophase I and cytokinesis, this cell divides into two cells. In the second phase, two haploid cells are divided without duplication and make four haploid cells.

Mitosis is done in somatic cells, while meiosis takes place in gametes. Mitosis occurs in both, asexual and sexual reproduction, while meiosis is characteristic of only sexual reproduction. There is no crossing over in mitosis, only in meiotic division. At the end of the mitotic division, four daughter cells have 23 pairs of cloned chromosomes from the mother cell. The meiosis has actually two divisions. In the end, there are four haploid daughter cells, which means that they contain 23 chromosomes.

Morgan has discovered that certain genes of the same chromosome are inherited together as a group, while those groups of genes are assorted independently. Therefore, chromosomes contain genetic material, which represents a collection of linked genes.

The law of independent assortment explains that gamete cell inherits alleles for various genes separately of one another. Meiosis consists of meiosis I and II. At the end of the first phase, the haploid cell is divided into two cells, both with 23 duplicated chromosomes. The result of the second phase are two cells are divided without duplication and making of four haploid cells. This is an example of independent assortment, where a child receives 23 chromosomes from a mother and 23 chromosomes from a father, while its phenotype will be determined by alleles inherited from both of its parents.

The law of independent assortment explains that gamete cell inherits alleles for various genes separately of one another. Meiosis consists of meiosis I and II. In metaphase I, chromosomes are aligned in the center of the cell, while in anaphase I, two sets of chromosomes move toward the opposite ends of the cell. At the end of the first phase, the haploid cell is divided into two cells, both with 23 duplicated chromosomes. In metaphase II, chromosomes are aligned in the center of the cell. During anaphase II, paired chromatids are divided and they move toward the opposite ends of the cell. The result of the second phase are two cells are divided without duplication and making of four haploid cells. This is an example of independent assortment, where a child receives 23 chromosomes from a mother and 23 chromosomes from a father, while its phenotype will be determined by alleles inherited from both of its parents.

In asexual reproduction, there is only one parent and the offspring is their clone. This process includes mitotic cell division and it is done in a short period of time. However, genetic diversity is possible because of gene mutations that occasionally occurs. In this way, some plants and simple one-cell organisms reproduce. In sexual reproduction, two parents pass their genetic material to the offspring. Gametes are the only cells that are made in the process of meiosis. Crossover is an interchange of DNA material within the homologous chromosomes in the prophase of the first meiotic division, which induces genetic diversity. This method is more complex, but it creates offspring that is genetically distinct.