Meiosis

Objectives:
 describe and differentiate the stages of mitosis
and meiosis given 2n=6
 discuss and demonstrate crossing over and
recombination in meiosis
 Questions:
1. What is the main goal of meiosis?
2. What are the two major stages of meiosis?
3. What are the stages in each of the two major stages of
meiosis?
a. Describe each stage by specifying a distinct
activity/change in the cell involve.
4. What are crossing over and recombination in
meiosis?
A cell undergoes a cell division. Determine the number
of chromosomes in each stage if the cell has
chromosomal number of 2n=6
Mitosis Meiosis
Interphase Interphase
Prophase Prophase I
Metaphase Metaphase I
Anaphase Anaphase I
Telophase Telophase I
Phrophase II
Metaphase II
Anaphase II
Telophase II
Group Leader Stages in Meiosis

Meiosis I
Meiosis II
Prophase I
Prophase I
Crossing over and recombination
Metaphase I
Anaphase I
Telophase I
Phrophase II
Metaphase II
Anaphase II
Telophase II
A cell undergoes a cell division. Determine the number
of chromosomes in each stage if the cell has
chromosomal number of 2n=6
Mitosis Meiosis
Interphase Interphase
Prophase Prophase I
Metaphase Metaphase I
Anaphase Anaphase I
Telophase Telophase I
Phrophase II
Metaphase II
Anaphase II
Telophase II
 Meiosis
 Gk. mio, “less”; -sis, “act or process of ”
 the type of nuclear division that reduces the chromosome
number from the
 diploid (2n) number (Gk. diplos, “twofold”) to the
 refers to the total number of chromosomes, which exists
in two sets.
 haploid (n) number (Gk. haplos, “single”).
 half the diploid number, or a single set of chromosomes.
 In humans, meiosis reduces the diploid number of 46
chromosomes to the haploid number of 23
chromosomes.
 Meiosis
 Gametes, or reproductive cells
 in animals, these are the sperm and egg,
 In some plants, these are spores
 usually have the haploid number of chromosomes.
 In sexual reproduction, haploid gametes, which are
produced during meiosis, subsequently merge into a
diploid cell - zygote.
 In plants and animals, the zygote undergoes development
to become an adult organism.
Homologous chromosomes
 In diploid body cells, the
chromosomes occur in pairs.
 homologous chromosomes – the
members of each pair
 Gk. homologos, “agreeing,
corresponding”,
 look alike and have the same
length and centromere position.
 the DNA (deoxyribonucleic
acid) sequence for the gene on
one homologue may code for
two possible alleles
 Overview of
Meiosis
First Meiotic Division
- results in reducing the
number of
chromosomes
(reduction
division).
- In most
cases, the division is
accompanied by
cytokinesis.
 Overview of
Meiosis
Second Meiotic Division
- the events are quite
similar to mitotic
division.
- difference - number of
chromosomes that each
daughter cell receives.
- Mitosis – retained the
original chromosome
number
- Meiosis – number is
reduced to half
 Meiosis - Prophase I
 subdivided into five
substages:
1. Leptonema
 Replicated chromosomes
have coiled and are already
visible.
 The number of
chromosomes present is the
same as the number in the
diploid cell.
 Meiosis - Prophase I
 subdivided into five substages:
2. Zygonema
 homologous chromosomes
come together and line up side
by side, forming a
synaptonemal complex
 Homologue chromosomes
begin to pair and twist around
each other in a highly specific
manner – synapsis
 bivalent tetrad - the pair
consists of four chromatids
 Meiosis - Prophase I
 subdivided into five substages:
3. Pachynema
 Chromosomes become much
shorter and thicker.
 crossing-over - a form of
physical exchange between
homologues takes place at specific
regions
 Through the mechanism of
crossing-over, the parts of the
homologous chromosomes are
recombined – genetic
recombination.
Synapsis and Crossing-Over.
 Meiosis - Prophase I
 subdivided into five substages:
4. Diplonema
 The two pairs of sister chromatids begin to separate
from each other.
 It is at this point where crossing-over is shown to have
taken place.
 Chiasma – area of contact between two non-sister
chromatids, become evident.
 Meiosis - Prophase I
 subdivided into five substages:
5. Diakinesis
 The four chromatids of each tetrad
are even more condensed and the
chiasma often terminalize or move
down the chromatids to the ends.
 This delays the separation of
homologous chromosomes
 In addition, the nucleoli disappear, and
the nuclear membrane begins to break
down.
 Meiosis Metaphase I
 The spindle apparatus is
completely formed and the
microtubules are attached to
the centromere regions of the
homologues.
 The synapsed tetrads are found
aligned at the metaphase plate
(the equatorial plane of the
cell) instead of only replicated
chromosomes.
Possible combinations
 Meiosis
Anaphase I
 Chromosomes in each
tetrad separate and
migrate toward the
opposite poles.
 The sister chromatids
(dyads) remain attached
at their respective
centromere regions.
 Meiosis
Telophase I
 The dyads complete their
migration to the poles.
 New nuclear membranes may
form. In most species,
cytokinesis follows, producing
two daughter cells.
 Each has a nucleus containing
only one set of chromosomes
(haploid level) in a replicated
form.
 Meiosis Prophase II
 The dyads contract.
 Each has a nucleus
containing only one set of
chromosomes (haploid
level) in a replicated form.
Meiosis Metaphase II
 The centromeres are
directed to the
equatorial plate and
then divide.
 Meiosis Anaphase II
 The sister chromatids
(monads) move away
from each other and
migrate to the opposite
poles of the spindle
fiber.
 Meiosis Telophase II
 The monads are at the
poles, forming two
groups of chromosomes.
 A nuclear membrane
forms around each set of
chromosomes and
cytokinesis follows.
 The chromosomes uncoil
and extend.
 Comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis
Meiosis Mitosis
1. Requires two nuclear divisions 1. Requires one nuclear divisions
2. Chromosomes synapse and cross 2. Chromosomes do not synapse nor
over cross over
3. Centromeres dissolve in mitotic
3. Centromeres survive in Anaphase I
anaphase
4. Halves chromosome number 4. Preserves chromosome number
5. Produces four daughter nuclei 5. Produces two daughter nuclei
6. Produces daughter cells genetically 6. Produces daughter cells genetically
different from parent and each other identical to parent and to each other
7. Used only for asexual reproduction
7. Used only for sexual reproduction
and growth
8. Promotes diversity 8. No diversity
 Meiosis I compared to Meiosis II compared to
Mitosis Mitosis
Meiosis I Mitosis Meiosis II Mitosis
Prophase I Prophase Prophase II Prophase
Pairing of No pairing of No pairing of No pairing of
homologous chromosomes chromosomes chromosomes
chromosomes
Metaphase I Metaphase Metaphase II Metaphase
Bivalents at Duplicated Haploid Diploid number
metaphase chromosomes number of of duplicated
plate at metaphase duplicated chromosomes at
plate chromosomes metaphase plate
at metaphase
plate
Meiosis I compared to Mitosis Meiosis II compared to Mitosis
Meiosis I Mitosis Meiosis II Mitosis
Anaphase I Anaphase Anaphase II Anaphase
Homologues of Sister chromatids Sister chromatids Sister chromatids
each bivalent separate, separate, becoming separate becoming
separate and becoming daughter daughter
duplicated daughter chromosomes that chromosomes that
chromosomes chromosomes that move to the poles move to the poles
move to poles move to the poles
Telophase I Telophase Telophase II Telophase
Two haploid Two diploid Four haploid Two diploid daughter
daughter cells daughter cells, daughter cells not cells, identical to the
not identical to identical to the genetically identical parent cell
the parent cell parent cell