Ascospore 571505 199356953 2008-03-19T15:23:59Z Vojtech.dostal 6298480 cs iw An '''ascospore''' is a [[spore]] contained in an [[ascus]] or that was produced inside an ascus. This kind of spore is specific to [[fungi]] classified as [[ascomycete]]s ([[Ascomycota]]). Typically, a single ascus will contain eight ascospores. The eight spores are produced by a combination of a [[meiosis]] division followed by a [[mitosis|mitotic]] division. The meiosis division turns the original [[diploid]] [[zygote]] nucleus into four [[haploid]] ones. That is, the single original cell from which the whole process begins contains two complete sets of [[chromosome]]s. In preparation for meiosis, all the [[DNA]] of both sets is duplicated, to make a total of four sets. The nucleus that contains the four sets divides in two stages, separating into four new nuclei - each of which has one complete set of chromosomes. Following this process, each of the four new nuclei duplicates its DNA and undergoes a division by mitosis. As a result, the ascus will contain four pairs of spores. [[Category:Ascomycota]] [[Category:Germ cells]] [[Category:Fungal morphology and anatomy]] {{Ascomycetes-stub}} [[cs:Askospora]] [[es:Ascospora]]