MEIOSIS

MEIOSIS
Occurs in plants and
animals reproducing
sexually.
In the course of
gametogenesis or
maturation of gametes.
Reduction of chromosomes
to haploid conditions.
Two successive divisions
but chromosomes divide
only once.

Meiosis
a type of cell division that occurs in specialized cells of the ovaries and testes
at sexual maturity
The ovaries and testes produce haploid gametes by meiosis
Key

Haploid gametes (n = 23)

Haploid (n)
Diploid (2n)

Ovum (n)

Sperm
Cell (n)
FERTILIZATION

MEIOSIS

Ovary

Testis

Mitosis and
development

Figure 13.5

Multicellular diploid
adults (2n = 46)

Diploid
zygote
(2n = 46)

MEIOSIS
Consists of two successive nuclear divisions:
a. First meiotic division (Meiosis I)
- reduction division
- involved reduction in the number of chromosomes
- diploid
to
haploid
- 46 chromosomes 23 chromosomes
b. Second meiotic division(MeiosisII)
- equational division
- no reduction in the number of chromosomes
Each of the two divisions has the same four stages:
prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase

 In animals
meiosis occurs during gamete formation
gametes are the only haploid cells

Key
Haploid
Diploid
n

Gametes

n
MEIOSIS

FERTILIZATION

Zygote
2n

Figure 13.6 A

Diploid
multicellular
organism

2n

Mitosis
(a) Animals

Homologous Chromosomes
- carry genes for the same traits
- same length
- similar pattern

Meiosis
sexual reproduction
haploid, diploid, gamete
homologous chromosome
two stages of meiosis
independent assortment
crossing-over

Figure 13.4 Describing chromosomes

in a diploid cell at metaphase - in a
eukaryote
Key
Maternal set of
chromosomes (n = 3)

2n = 6
Paternal set of
chromosomes (n = 3)

Two sister chromatids

of one replicated
chromosome
Centromere

Two nonsister
chromatids in
a homologous pair

Pair of homologous
chromosomes
(one from each set)

Synapsis
- a process where the
homologous chromosomes line
up side by side
- process of linking of
homologous chromosomes
Tetrad
- also called bivalent
- a thick (4) structure being
composed of (2) homologous
chromosomes
Crossing over
- nonsister chromatid of (2)
homologous chromosomes in a
tetrad exchange DNA segments
Chiasmata
- point at which 2 non-sister
chromatids intertwine

Meiosis
two stages of meiosis

Figure 13.8 The Meiotic Division

of an Animal Cell
MEIOSIS I: Separates homologous chromosomes

INTERPHASE

PROPHASE I

METAPHASE I

ANAPHASE I

Sister chromatids
remain attached

Centromere
(with kinetochore)

Centrosomes
(with centriole pairs)
Sister
chromatids

Chiasmata
Spindle

Metaphase
plate

Nuclear
envelope

Homologous
Microtubule
Tetrad
chromosomes
attached to
Chromatin
separate
kinetochore
Tetrads
line
up
Homologous
chromosomes
Chromosomes duplicate
(red and blue) pair and exchange
segments; 2n = 6 in this example

Pairs of homologous
chromosomes split up

Prophase I
Nuclear membrane disintegrates or breaks up
Synapsis
Crossing over
Metaphase I
Nuclear membrane disappeared
Spindle apparatus is formed
Homologous chromosomes line up at the center of the metaphase
plate
Anaphase I
Homologoues separate and begin to move toward each pole
Telophase I
similar with telophase in mitosis
daughter cells have one chromosome from each homologous pair
transition to the second nuclear division is called interkinesis

Meiosis
two stages of meiosis

Figure 13.8 The Meiotic Division

of an Animal Cell
MEIOSIS II: Separates sister chromatids

TELOPHASE I AND
CYTOKINESIS

PROPHASE II

Cleavage
furrow

Two haploid cells

form; chromosomes
are still double

METAPHASE II

ANAPHASE II

Sister chromatids
separate

TELOPHASE II AND
CYTOKINESIS

Haploid daughter cells

forming

During another round of cell division, the sister chromatids finally separate;
four haploid daughter cells result, containing single chromosomes

Meiosis II
resemble an ordinary mitotic division except that the number of
chromosomes has been reduced by half
Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II,Telophase II and
Cytokinesis
4 new cells with haploid chromosomes
Comparison between Mitosis and Meiosis
Mitosis
Meiosis
- Formation of two daughter
- formation of four daughter cells
cells (2n)
(n)
- Cells divide only once for
- two nuclear divisions resulting
every cell division
cells with haploid number of
chromosomes

- Chromosomes duplicate
but do not pair

- occurs in somatic/body cells

- chromosomes form pairs

which are segregated into (2)
daughter cells of the first
division
- in the second division
homologous chromosomes
split and form 4 haploid cells
- occurs in gametes

Meiosis in relation to Gametogenesis

Maturing gametes divide
by meiosis and undergo
series of development and
transformation
throughgametogenesis
two types:
1. spermatogenesis
- male gametogenesis
- testis
2. oogenesis
- female
- ovary

Spermatogenesis in frogs testis

Cross-section of frogs
testis

Seminiferous tubules
showing spermatogenesis

Oogenesis

Oogonia

oogonium

Primary
oogonium/oocyte

Secondary oogonia

Spermatogenesis

spermatogonia

Primary spermatocytes

Secondary spermatocytes

Spermatozoa