CHAPTER 6: CELL DIVISION
6.3: MEIOSIS
6.3.1 State the meaning of meiosis.
6.3.2 Identify types of cells that undergo meiosis.
6.3.3 State the necessity of meiosis in: the formation of gametes (gametogenesis),
producing genetic variation, maintaining diploid chromosomal numbers from one
generation to another.
6.3.4 Explain the stages of meiosis in the correct order: meiosis I & meiosis Il
6.3.5 Draw and label the cell structure in each stage of meiosis I, meiosis II and
cytokinesis.
6.3.6 Compare and contrast meiosis and mitosis.
1.5 Meiosis
• Meiosis reduces the number of chromosome sets
from diploid to haploid.
• Formation of daughter cell with a haploid set of
chromosomes.
• Only diploid cells can divide by meiosis.
1.5 Meiosis
• Meiosis ensures that the next generation will have diploid
number of chromosome by forming haploid gametes.
– It is the fundamental basis of sexual reproduction
– Two haploid (1n) gametes are brought together through fertilization
to form a diploid (2n) zygote
• Enable the exchange of genetic information (combination of
traits that differs from that of either parent) - variation
1.5 Meiosis
• Meiosis takes place in two sets of divisions
– Meiosis I reduces the number of chromosomes from
diploid to haploid
– Meiosis II produces four haploid daughter cells
• During meiosis, there will be two nuclear
divisions, and the result will be four haploid
nuclei.
• Prior to meiosis I, DNA replication occurs.
• No replication of DNA occurs between meiosis I
and meiosis II.
1.5 Meiosis
• Start with 46 double stranded chromosomes (2n)
• After 1 division - 23 double stranded
chromosomes (n)
• After 2nd division - 23 single stranded
chromosomes (n)
1.5 Meiosis
• Meiosis involves the same four phases seen in
mitosis
Before meiosis - DNA replication
Prophase I
Metaphase I
Meiosis I
Anaphase I
Telophase I
Meiosis Interkinesis No replication
Prophase II
Metaphase II
Meiosis II
Anaphase II
Telophase II
After meiosis Cytokinesis -
1.5.1 Meiosis: Chromosome replication
• Replication is the process
of duplicating a
chromosome
• Occurs during interphase
(S-phase), before division
• Replicated copies are
called sister chromatids
• Held together at
centromere
1.5.1 Meiosis: Chromosome replication
Gene X
Homologs Sister
(same genes, Chromatids
different alleles) (same genes,
same alleles)
Homologs separate in meiosis I and therefore
different alleles separate.
1.5.2 Meiosis: Prophase I
• Occupies more than 90% of
the time required for
meiosis
• Chromosomes begin to
condense, spindle forms.
• Nuclear envelope
fragments.
• Synapsis occur - 2 members
of each homologous pair of
chromosomes line up side-
by-side, aligned gene by
gene, to form a tetrad
consisting of 4 chromatids
1.5.2 Meiosis: Prophase I
• During synapsis, sometimes there is an exchange of
homologous parts between non-sister chromatids.
This exchange is called crossing over
• Each tetrad usually has one or more chiasmata, X-
shaped regions where crossing over occurred
1.5.2 Meiosis: Prophase I
• Synapsis
Homologous chromosomes Join to form a
(each with sister chromatids) TETRAD
Paternal Maternal
1.5.2 Meiosis: Prophase I
• Crossing-over multiplies the already huge number
of different gamete types produced by independent
assortment
Maternal
Paternal
1.5.3 Meiosis: Metaphase I
• At metaphase I, tetrads line up at
the metaphase plate, with one
chromosome facing each pole
• Microtubules from one pole are
attached to the kinetochore of one
chromosome of each tetrad
• Microtubules from the other pole
are attached to the kinetochore of
the other chromosome
1.5.4 Meiosis: anaphase I
• In anaphase I, pairs of homologous
chromosomes separate
• One chromosome moves toward
each pole, guided by the spindle
apparatus
• Sister chromatids remain attached
at the centromere and move as one
unit toward the pole
1.5.5 Meiosis: telophase I & Cytokinesis
• In the beginning of telophase I, each half of the cell
has a haploid set of chromosomes; each
chromosome still consists of two sister chromatids
• Cytokinesis usually occurs simultaneously,
forming two haploid daughter cells
• In animal cells, a cleavage furrow forms; in plant
cells, a cell plate forms
• No chromosome replication occurs between the
end of meiosis I and the beginning of meiosis II
because the chromosomes are already replicated
1.5.5 Meiosis: telophase I & Cytokinesis
1.5.6 Meiosis: Prophase II
• Meiosis II is very similar to
mitosis
• In prophase II, a spindle
apparatus forms
• In late prophase II,
chromosomes (each still
composed of two
chromatids) move toward
the metaphase plate
1.5.6 Meiosis: Prophase II
1.5.7 Meiosis: metaphase II
• At metaphase II, the sister chromatids
are at the metaphase plate
• Because of crossing over in meiosis I,
the two sister chromatids of each
chromosome are no longer genetically
identical
• The kinetochores of sister chromatids
attach to microtubules extending from
opposite poles
1.5.8 Meiosis: anaphase II
• At anaphase II, the sister chromatids
separate
• The sister chromatids of each
chromosome now move as two newly
individual chromosomes toward
opposite poles
1.5.9 Meiosis: telophase II
• In telophase II, the chromosomes
arrive at opposite poles
• Nuclei form, and the chromosomes
begin decondensing
• Cytokinesis separates the cytoplasm
• At the end of meiosis, there are four
daughter cells, each with a haploid
set of unreplicated chromosomes
• Each daughter cell is genetically
distinct from the others and from the
parent cell
1.5.10 Result of meiosis
• Four haploid cells with one copy of each
chromosome
• One allele of each gene
• Different combinations of alleles for different genes
along the chromosome
1.5.10 Result of meiosis
• Mitosis conserves the number of chromosome sets,
producing cells that are genetically identical to the
parent cell
• Meiosis reduces the number of chromosomes sets
from two (diploid) to one (haploid), producing cells
that differ genetically from each other and from the
parent cell
• The mechanism for separating sister chromatids is
virtually identical in meiosis II and mitosis
1.5.10 Result of meiosis
• Three events are unique to meiosis, and all three
occur in meiosis l:
– Synapsis and crossing over in prophase I: Homologous
chromosomes physically connect and exchange genetic
information
– At the metaphase plate, there are paired homologous
chromosomes (tetrads), instead of individual replicated
chromosomes
– At anaphase I of meiosis, homologous pairs move
toward opposite poles of the cell. In anaphase II of
meiosis, the sister chromatids separate
1.6 mitosis vs meiosis
1.6 mitosis vs meiosis
Meiosis Mitosis
2 cell divisions 1 cell division
Half of the chromosome Same chromosome number
number as parent cell as parent cell
Synapsis occur Homologous chromosomes
do not pair up
Crossing-over occur No genetic exchange
between homologous
chromosomes
One diploid cell produces 4 One diploid cell produces 2
haploid cells diploid cells
Each new cell has a unique New cells are genetically
combination of genes identical to original cell
Occur in gamete Occur in somatic cell
