Question

Meiosis is the kind of cell division that produces gamete cells. So the mother cell gives rise to two daughter cells, and then those duplicate to form four haploid cells,with half the number of chromosomes in mother cell. These four cells are the gametes. My question is, what is the mother cell? Is that a gamete cell (which doesn't seem likely) or a normal cell or what?

Answer 1

The "mother cell" has to be diploid, so it can't be a gamete cell as you already said. The mother cell is called germ cell. They differentiate into gametes (oocytes or spermatocytes) and are located in the gonads (ovarium or testis).

Answer 2

So they're actually normal body cells

Answer 3

in a way?

Answer 4

with the capacityor ability to divide and produce gametes in this way?

Answer 5

The difference is that they can undergo mitosis and meiosis, whereas "normal" body cells only undergo mitosis.

Answer 6

OH! Thanks a bunch! :D