# Describe how meiosis and fertilisation together ensure that offspring produced by sexual reproduction are genetically different from their parents.

> Edexcel GCSE Biology (1BI0) — 3.1 Sexual and asexual reproduction · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Meiosis produces gametes / sex cells that are haploid (contain half the chromosome number)
2. Meiosis produces gametes that are genetically different from one another / genetic variation is introduced during meiosis
3. Fertilisation is the fusion of a male and female gamete / their nuclei fuse
4. Fertilisation randomly combines alleles from two different parents, producing a new genetic combination / restores the diploid number with a unique mix of alleles

## Key terms

- [meiosis](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/meiosis)
- [fertilisation](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/fertilisation)

## Related

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/describe-how-meiosis-and-fertilisation-together-08f2596c) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.