Part of Meiosis I don't understand... (1 Viewer)

[sointoyourself]

So Meiosis forms haploid gamete cells - sperm or ova. And this happens in the testes and ovaries respectively. Sperm and Ova combine at Fertilization to produce a diploid fertilized egg which becomes a baby or whatever. What I don't get is if the Sperm and Ova haven't yet combined what do they mean what are they referring to when they talk about "maternal" and "paternal" chromosomes during meiosis?
Am I missing something? Is this like say your grandparent's genes or something?
If it's a stupid question I apologize but I honestly don't get that part and it's making it hard to understand the entire process.

 

[sointoyourself]

This animation illustrates my question better: http://highered.mcgraw-hill.com/sit...w0/chapter3/animation__how_meiosis_works.html
I don't think I worded it very well.

 

[jnney]

oh well, as in, every individual will have chromosomes from their father and mother, just like you and me.

 

[sointoyourself]

So if meiosis was occurring in me, 'crossing over' for example would produce re combinations of my mother and fathers genes? and the same thing would be happening in a guy with respect to his parents genes, and then when you hit it off (lol) the baby's genes is a combination of your parents and his parents when both haploid cells (sperm and ova) combine?
Someone please tell me this is right or I'm going to loose my mind.

 

[jnney]

Yep, crossing over of maternal and paternal genes creates what is known as 'genetic variation'.

Yes to the second question also.

 

[sointoyourself]

Yep, crossing over of maternal and paternal genes creates what is known as 'genetic variation'.

Yes to the second question also.

Thanks heaps

 

[jnney]

Anytime!