AP Lab: Meiosis

While asexual reproduction in multicellular organisms is accomplished through mitosis, sexual

reproduction requires a special form of cell division, called meiosis. Meiosis provides a reduction
division process that reduces chromosome number by half to make haploid (1n) cells. In this
way, gametes (or sex cells: sperm and egg) are formed that have half the number of
chromosomes as body (or somatic) cells. This allows gametes to combine during fertilization
which restores the diploid (2n) number of chromosomes in the zygote. Consequently as the
zygote undergoes​ ​mitosis, it produces diploid clone cells developing into the new multicellular
organism.

Part 1: Simulating Meiosis

Using the Play dough provided by your teacher to model chromosomes, demonstrate your
understanding of the process of meiosis. Begin with a cell with 4 chromosomes (2 pairs of
homologous chromosomes, therefore the diploid number = 4). Distinguish the pairs of
chromosomes from each other by size (one pair long and one pair short). Distinguish
the members of each homologous pair by color. Pinch in the center to represent the
centromere. Use the whiteboard at your desk to represent the rest of the cell. Practice this with
your group a couple of times, then demonstrate to your teacher the process of meiosis in the
cell. ​Do not forget to include crossing over​.
Part 2: Representing Meiosis
Insert a picture of the phase of meiosis using a model cell with a diploid number of 2. Your
picture should clearly show the number of cells produced and the chromosome number of each
new cell.

Interphase Prophase 1 Metaphase I

Anaphase I Prophase II

Telophase I
 Anaphase II
Metaphase II

Telophase II & Cytokinesis

Part 3: Comparing Meiosis and Mitosis

Compare mitosis and meiosis for each of the following factors.

Mitosis Meiosis

Chromosome number of parent cell 46 chromosomes 46 chromosomes

(ploidy state)

Number of DNA replications One Two​ One

Number of divisions One Two

Number of daughter cells produced Two Four

Chromosome number of daughter 46 chromosomes 23 chromosomes

cells

Purpose/function growth/repair Sex cells

Summary Questions
1. How do meiosis I and meiosis II differ? ​Meiosis I and II differ in that they are working with
different amounts of daughter cells at once.
2. Why is meiosis important for sexual reproduction? ​It creates gametes, or sex cells, with
half the number of its parent chromosomes that are all genetically dissimilar.

3. What is the difference between gametes produced without crossing over and the ones
produced with crossing over? ​Gametes produced without crossing over are genetically
identical while gametes produced by crossing over are genetically not identical.

4. In what way is crossing over important for sexual reproduction? ​It encourages greater
gene availability, making for healthy organisms in our human population.

5. Was there a greater chance to cross over between some pairs of alleles than between
others? Explain. ​Yes, there is a greater chance to cross over between some pairs of
alleles than others. This is because certain alleles work well together due to both alleles
being essential to functioning of the body. Thus, crossover will occur to add variation to
our body’s function.