Meiosis

Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to
produce four cells containing half the original amount of

genetic information. These cells are our sex cells – sperm in
males, eggs in females.
 During meiosis one cell? divides twice to form four daughter
cells.
 These four daughter cells only have half the number
of chromosomes? of the parent cell – they are haploid.
 Meiosis produces our sex cells or gametes? (eggs in females
and sperm in males).
Meiosis can be divided into nine stages. These are divided
between the first time the cell divides (meiosis I) and the second
time it divides (meiosis II):
Meiosis I
1. Interphase:
 The DNA in the cell is copied resulting in two identical full
sets of chromosomes.
 Outside of the nucleus? are two centrosomes, each
containing a pair of centrioles, these structures are critical
for the process of cell division?.
 During interphase, microtubules extend from these
centrosomes.
2. Prophase I:
 The copied chromosomes condense into X-shaped
structures that can be easily seen under a microscope.
 Each chromosome is composed of two sister chromatids
containing identical genetic information.
 The chromosomes pair up so that both copies of
chromosome 1 are together, both copies of chromosome 2
are together, and so on.
 The pairs of chromosomes may then exchange bits of DNA
in a process called recombination or crossing over.
 At the end of Prophase I the membrane around the nucleus
in the cell dissolves away, releasing the chromosomes.
 The meiotic spindle, consisting of microtubules and other
proteins, extends across the cell between the centrioles.
3. Metaphase I:
 The chromosome pairs line up next to each other along the
center (equator) of the cell.
 The centrioles are now at opposites poles of the cell with
the meiotic spindles extending from them.
 The meiotic spindle fibres attach to one chromosome of
each pair.
4. Anaphase I:
 The pair of chromosomes are then pulled apart by the
meiotic spindle, which pulls one chromosome to one pole
of the cell and the other chromosome to the opposite pole.
 In meiosis I the sister chromatids stay together. This is
different to what happens in mitosis and meiosis II.
5. Telophase I and cytokinesis:
 The chromosomes complete their move to the opposite
poles of the cell.
 At each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather
together.
 A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to
create two new nuclei.
 The single cell then pinches in the middle to form two
separate daughter cells each containing a full set of
chromosomes within a nucleus. This process is known as
cytokinesis
.
Meiosis II
6. Prophase II:
 Now there are two daughter cells, each with 23
chromosomes (23 pairs of chromatids).
 In each of the two daughter cells the chromosomes
condense again into visible X-shaped structures that can be
easily seen under a microscope.
 The membrane around the nucleus in each daughter cell
dissolves away releasing the chromosomes.
 The centrioles duplicate.
 The meiotic spindle forms again.
7. Metaphase II:
 In each of the two daughter cells the chromosomes (pair of
sister chromatids) line up end-to-end along the equator of
the cell.
 The centrioles are now at opposites poles in each of the
daughter cells.
 Meiotic spindle fibres at each pole of the cell attach to each
of the sister chromatids.
8. Anaphase II:
 The sister chromatids are then pulled to opposite poles due
to the action of the meiotic spindle.
 The separated chromatids are now individual
chromosomes.
9. Telophase II and cytokinesis:
 The chromosomes complete their move to the opposite
poles of the cell.
 At each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather
together.
 A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to
create two new cell nuclei.
 This is the last phase of meiosis, however cell division is not
complete without another round of cytokinesis.
 Once cytokinesis is complete there are four granddaughter
cells, each with half a set of chromosomes (haploid):
o in males, these four cells are all sperm cells
in females, one of the cells is an egg cell while the other three
are polar bodies (small cells that do not develop into eggs)

Meiosis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Meiosis

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Meiosis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to

produce four cells containing half the original amount of

You might also like