Meiosis

THE PRODUCTION OF GAMETES

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Meiosis Outcomes
• 2 Key Outcomes:
• Genetic Reduction – cell division that produces daughter cells
with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell
• Genetic Recombination
• Produces offspring that are genetically different from one another
and their parents
• Increases genetic variation in a population

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Interphase
• Cells go through the growth and synthesis phases before
dividing
• Includes the replication of chromosomes – cell contains
duplicated chromosomes (identical sister chromatids)

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MEIOSIS I 4
Prophase I
• Homologous chromosomes pair up to form tetrads – called
synapsis
• Homologous chromosomes – chromosomes that contains the
same sequence of genes with different alleles
• Gene – governs the expression of a trait
• Example – hair or eye colour
• Alleles – a different form of the same gene

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Prophase I
• During synapsis crossing over happens
• Homologous chromosomes are held tightly together and
exchange genetic information – called recombinant chromatids
• IMPORTANT FOR PROVIDING GENETIC DIVERSITY
• Centrosomes move to the poles of the cell
• Spindle apparatus forms

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Metaphase I
• Tetrads line up along the equator
• Spindle fibres attach to the centromeres

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Anaphase I
• Homologous pairs separate to opposite poles of the cell –
process called segregation
• Sister chromatids are still held together by centromeres

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Telophase I
• Nuclear membrane forms around each cell
• Spindle fibres disappear
• Cytokinesis occurs
• Result: 2 haploid cells (n = 23 chromosomes) instead of diploid
(2n = 46 chromosomes)

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MEIOSIS II 10
Prophase II
• No chromosomal replication takes place before meiosis II
• Nuclear membrane breaks down
• Centrosomes move to opposite poles
• Spindle fibres are formed

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Metaphase II
• Chromosomes line up at the equator
• Spindle fibres attach to centromeres

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Anaphase II
• Sister chromatids are separated by spindle fibres
• Chromosomes move toward opposite poles

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Telophase II
• Chromosomes reach the poles and start to unwind
• Spindle fibres breakdown
• Nuclear membrane reforms
• Cytokinesis occurs
• Result: 4 new haploid, non-identical daughter cells (n = 23
chromosomes)

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Meiosis Process
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• Homework
• Page 172 – #7, 9, 11, 12
• Page 176 – #13, 16

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