Genetically identical only applies if the egg divided into two and each developed into an insect (i.e twins)


If you had two separate unfertilised eggs, remember that meiosis occurred in the processes leading up to the formation of these eggs.

With independent assortment and crossing over , you'll expect the eggs to.be genetically different.

i thought meiosis only occurs when there is fertilisation, but it is confusing when they say unfertilised...

Since when does meiosis only occur when there is fertilisation?

Meiosis occurs to result in the formation of gamete cells.

For the female side you get eggs.
For the male side you get sperms.

For humans, each of these cells has 23 chromosome (haploid cells)

This is unrelated to fertilisation.

When fertilisation occurs, (i.e the fusion of the egg and the sperm), the zygote is formed and has 46 chromosomes (diploid cell).

From here, mitosis and cell specialisation occurs, leading up to the formation of the baby.

For these insects, they don't need fertilisation.


The unfertilised egg can develop into a complete insect. The chromosomes number is expected to double back (you are not expected to know how many since chromosome numbers for different insects are not in your syllabus)

Mitosis and cell specialisation will occur from there to form the complete insect.

for this qn, unfertilised meaning it is the egg from the female insects. but it is genetically dissimilar from each other as it is from different female insects?

ohh meiosis occurs to produce gametes, after thay fertilisation occurs then mitosis to form embryo?

It is not from different female insects. It is from the same insect.

There is genetic variation in the egg cells produced.

Remember how unidentical twins come about.


You seem to be unfamiliar with mitosis and meiosis. Do revise it as much as possible.

unidentical twins come about with 2 different eggs produxed at the same time, identical is when 1egg produced is being divided into 2. in this case its a few different eggs produced at the same time hence its unidentical?

Yes, something like that.

Just that there is no involvement of sperm cells/male gametes for the insects.

thx :)