Meiocyte
Encyclopedia
A meiocyte is a cell
which is an immediate precursor to a gamete
. It is so named because meiosis
occurs in the cell. A meiocyte goes through meiosis (2 divisions) to form a tetrad
. This tetrad consists of 4 genetically different cells that have half the genetic information of the meiocyte from which it came.
Cell (biology)
The cell is the basic structural and functional unit of all known living organisms. It is the smallest unit of life that is classified as a living thing, and is often called the building block of life. The Alberts text discusses how the "cellular building blocks" move to shape developing embryos....
which is an immediate precursor to a gamete
Gamete
A gamete is a cell that fuses with another cell during fertilization in organisms that reproduce sexually...
. It is so named because meiosis
Meiosis
Meiosis is a special type of cell division necessary for sexual reproduction. The cells produced by meiosis are gametes or spores. The animals' gametes are called sperm and egg cells....
occurs in the cell. A meiocyte goes through meiosis (2 divisions) to form a tetrad
Tetrad (genetics)
The tetrad is the four spores of a yeast or Chlamydomonas, that separate after mating. If the two parents have a mutation in two different genes, the tetrad can segregate as the parental ditype , the non-parental ditype or as the tetratype ....
. This tetrad consists of 4 genetically different cells that have half the genetic information of the meiocyte from which it came.