... of 23 (four haploid cells) After the nuclear division of a set of chromosomes has taken place 2 sperm/ovum are created so that 23 of the person's chromosomes can be passed on to their offspring. However meiosis is made much more complicated by a processed called crossing over; this means that the chromosomes can be broken up and sections of the chromosome can switch over and exchange with each other making a unique combination of 23 chromosomes which can be passed on to the offspring When the gametes from each parent combine at fertilisation 'a zygote (fertilized egg cell) with the full complement of chromosomes is produced' (Pinel J.P.J, 2000, 36,) [3] thus creating an even more unique combination of genetic material. The genes for all the different characteristics are held at certain locations on a pair of chromosomes, for example if there was an abnormality at chromosome 15 at ...

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