Lab No (4 )

Meiosis
Meiosis
Meiosis is the type of cell division by which
germ cells (eggs and sperm) are
produced.
Meiosis comprises two successive nuclear
divisions with only one round of DNA
replication.


Sexual reproduction occurs only in
eukaryotes. During the formation of
gametes, the number of chromosomes
is reduced by half, and returned to the
full amount when the two gametes fuse
during fertilization.
The random sorting of chromosomes
during meiosis assures that each new
sex cell, and therefore each new
offspring, has a unique genetic
inheritance.


Meiosis Stages
Two successive nuclear divisions occur, Meiosis I
(Reduction) and Meiosis II (Division).
Four stages can be described for each nuclear division.
Interphase: Before meiosis begins, genetic material is
duplicated.
First division of meiosis
Prophase 1: Duplicated chromatin condenses. Each
chromosome consists of two, closely associated sister
chromatids. Crossing-over can occur during the latter
part of this stage.
Metaphase 1: Homologous chromosomes align at the
equatorial plate.
Anaphase 1: Homologous pairs separate with sister
chromatids remaining together.
Telophase 1: Two daughter cells are formed with each
daughter containing only one chromosome of the
homologous pair.

Second division of meiosis: Gamete
formation
Prophase 2: DNA does not replicate.
Metaphase 2: Chromosomes align at the
equatorial plate.
Anaphase 2: Centromeres divide and sister
chromatids migrate separately to each pole.
Telophase 2: Cell division is complete. Four
haploid daughter cells are obtained.


prophase1

Metaphase

Metaphase I is when tetrads line-up
along the equator of the spindle.
Spindle fibers attach to the centromere
region of each homologous
chromosome pair. Other metaphase
events as in mitosis.
prometaphase1
Anaphase

Anaphase I is when the tetrads
separate, and are drawn to opposite
poles by the spindle fibers. The
centromeres in Anaphase I remain
intact.
anaphase1

Telophase

Telophase I is similar to Telophase of
mitosis, except that only one set of
(replicated) chromosomes is in each "cell".
Telophase 1 a

telophase1
Nuclear envelopes may reform, or the cell
may quickly start meiosis II.
Comparing Meiosis and Mitosis
Chromosome behavior
Mitosis: Homologous chromosomes independent
Meiosis: Homologous chromosomes pair forming bivalents until
anaphase I
Chromosome number- reduction in meiosis
Mitosis- identical daughter cells
Meiosis- daughter cells haploid
Genetic identity of progeny:
Mitosis: identical daughter cells
Meiosis: daughter cells have new assortment of parental
chromosomes
Meiosis: chromatids not identical, crossing over

Meiosis differs from normal cell division, or mitosis, in
1- it involves two consecutive cell divisions instead of
one.
2- the genetic material contained in chromosomes is not
copied during the second meiotic division.
3- mitosis produces identical daughter cells, meiosis
randomly mixes the chromosomes, resulting in unique
combinations of chromosomes in each daughter cell.

The End










Prophase II
During Prophase II, nuclear envelopes (if
they formed during Telophase I) dissolve,
and spindle fibers reform. All else is as in
Prophase of mitosis. Indeed Meiosis II is
very similar to mitosis.
Metaphase II
Metaphase II is similar to mitosis, with
spindles moving chromosomes into
equatorial area and attaching to the
opposite sides of the centromeres in the
kinetochore region.

Anaphase II
During Anaphase II, the centromeres split
and the former chromatids (now
chromosomes) are segregated into
opposite sides of the cell.
Before meiosis begins, the chromosomes are
copied exactly. The DNA of each chromosome
is replicated to form two chromatids. They then
arrange themselves into homologous pairs (both
coding for the same characteristics), and
prepare for cell division. At this point maternal
and paternal chromatids can exchange bits of
DNA to recombine their genetic material and
increase the potential for variation.

The homologous pairs of chromosomes
then separate and move to the poles of
the parent nucleus. For each of the 23
pairs there is a 50-50 chance as to which
pole the paternal or maternal pair of
chromatids go. With over 8 million
possibilities there are many opportunities
for variation.

The nucleus now divides to form two
daughter nuclei, each with a mixture of
paternal and maternal chromosomes but
with half the full complement of genetic
material (and no pairs at all). This division
is called Meiosis 1.

Finally the two daughter nuclei themselves
divide to form gametes. This second
division - Meiosis 2 - works just like
mitosis. The chromosomes (really pairs of
chromatids) split apart to form the genetic
material of the four new cells. The end
result is four sex cells each with a
complete but single set of 23
chromosomes.
Telophase II
Telophase II is identical to Telophase of
mitosis. Cytokinesis separates the cells.







prophase1
DNA replication precedes the start of meiosis I.
During prophase I, homologous chromosomes
pair and form synapses, a step unique to
meiosis. The paired chromosomes are called
bivalents, and the formation of chiasmata
caused by genetic recombination becomes
apparent. Chromosomal condensation allows
these to be viewed in the microscope. Note that
the bivalent has two chromosomes and four
chromatids, with one chromosome coming from
each parent.
prometaphase1
The nuclear membrane disappears. One
kinetochore forms per chromosome rather
than one per chromatid, and the
chromosomes attached to spindle fibers
begin to move.
telophase1b

cytokinesis
Analogous to mitosis where two complete
daughter cells form.
metaphase1
Bivalents, each composed of two
chromosomes (four chromatids) align at
the metaphase plate. The orientation is
random, with either parental homologue
on a side. This means that there is a 50-50
chance for the daughter cells to get either
the mother's or father's homologue for
each chromosome.
Comparing Meiosis and Mitosis
Chromosome behavior
Mitosis: Homologous chromosomes independent
Meiosis: Homologous chromosomes pair forming bivalents until
anaphase I
Chromosome number- reduction in meiosis
Mitosis- identical daughter cells
Meiosis- daughter cells haploid
Genetic identity of progeny:
Mitosis: identical daughter cells
Meiosis: daughter cells have new assortment of parental
chromosomes
Meiosis: chromatids not identical, crossing over

Meiosis differs from normal cell division, or mitosis, in
1- it involves two consecutive cell divisions instead of
one.
2- the genetic material contained in chromosomes is not
copied during the second meiotic division.
3- mitosis produces identical daughter cells, meiosis
randomly mixes the chromosomes, resulting in unique
combinations of chromosomes in each daughter cell.

Prophase

Prophase I has a unique event -- the pairing of
homologous chromosomes. Synapsis is the process of
linking of the replicated homologous chromosomes. The
resulting chromosome is termed a tetrad, being
composed of two chromatids from each chromosome,
forming a thick (4-strand) structure. Crossing-over may
occur at this point. During crossing-over chromatids
break and may be reattached to a different homologous
chromosome.