Gametes & Mitosis: Do Gametes Undergo Replication?

  • Thread starter Thread starter MathewsMD
  • Start date Start date
Join the discussion
Registration is free. Ask a follow-up in this thread, or start your own.
6 replies · 5K views
MathewsMD
Messages
430
Reaction score
7
I understand that gametes are produced through the process of meiosis. I'm just wondering, do gametes ever undergo a form of mitosis where it is replicated to produce more gametes after the initial meiosis stage is over?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
The "best answer" in the following link says: "these cells continue dividing, producing billions of sperm cells per day." Is this correct? Do sperm undergo countless divisions (mitosis) once they are formed in the haploid phase?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100214071825AAgcIhS (I know it's not the best source, but it pertains to the topic above and I can't seem to find the exact answers I'm looking for elsewhere).
 
MathewsMD said:
The "best answer" in the following link says: "these cells continue dividing, producing billions of sperm cells per day." Is this correct? Do sperm undergo countless divisions (mitosis) once they are formed in the haploid phase?

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100214071825AAgcIhS (I know it's not the best source, but it pertains to the topic above and I can't seem to find the exact answers I'm looking for elsewhere).

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10019/ - it looks like the primordial germ cells are diploid, so that doesn't seem to be what you are asking about.

Off the top of my head, a close phenomenon might be the mitosis of haploid yeast cells.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
atyy said:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10019/ - it looks like the primordial germ cells are diploid, so that doesn't seem to be what you are asking about.

Off the top of my head, a close phenomenon might be the mitosis of haploid yeast cells.

Thanks for the great link. Although it doesn't answer my question directly, it's helpful in understanding why this is more likely.
 
Another question closely related: in females, is there a general range of maximum potential ova? How many gametes do females develop by the end of gestation?
 
MathewsMD said:
Another question closely related: in females, is there a general range of maximum potential ova? How many gametes do females develop by the end of gestation?

They are primary oocytes and millions of eggs are in a fetus but it is only when you start ovulating that they are officially considered gametes.