Meiosis

Comes from the Greek meioun,

meaning "to make smaller,"
Reduction-Division Process
Meiosis
 Transmitting copies of genetic material from
parent to offspring
 Gamete formation – haploid 1n
 Halfthe normal chromosome number
 Horse = 32 chromosomes

 Occurs in specialized cells

 Testes – Spermatogenesis
 Ovary – Oogenesis
Spermatogenesis
 Originates within spermatogonium – specialized
cells in the seminiferous tubules of the testes
 Formation of Primary Spermatocytes
 Spermatogonium make more layers of similar cells inside the
walls of the seminiferous tubules
 Mitosis – spermatogonium produce primary spermatocytes
from puberty on.
 Formation of Secondary Spermatocytes
 Primary spermatocytes divide to form secondary
spermatocytes (Meiosis I)
 Each secondary spermatocyte divides into two spermatids
(Meiosis II)
 Meiosis – sperm production – two step process
Meiosis
 2 Stage process
 Stage I
 Duplication and exchange of genetic material in Homologous
Chromosomes
 Tetraploid
 Migration of Homologous Chromosomes to opposite
daughter cells
 Diploid
 Stage II
 Separation of Sister Chromatids
 Formation of hapliod cells
Prophase I
 Characterized by a Synapse
 attraction
between homologous chromosomes
 process of linking homologous chromosomes
 Exchange of genetic material between paired
chromosomes may occur
 Formation of a tetrad – thick 4-stranded structure
 Crossing over – rearranging genetic material
 Increases genetic variation
 Offspring inherit new gene combinations from their
parents
Chiasma
 The site where the
exchange of chromosome
segments between
homologous
chromosomes takes
place (crossing-over).
 Points of contact of the
arms of adjacent
chromosomes
 Characteristic of very late
Prophase I – early
Metaphase I
Prophase I
 Centrioles and spindle fibers form
 Homologous chromosomes separate
 Loss of nuclear membrane
 Move into the cytoplasm
 Migrate to equator

Prometaphase I
Metaphase I
 Homologous
chromosomes are
completely separated
 Sister chromatids
united by centromere
(kinetochore) attach
to spindle fibers at the
equator
Anaphase I
 Movement of the
homologous
chromosomes to
opposite poles
 No separation of
chromatids
Telophase I
 Separation of the
cytoplasm to form sister
cells
 Nuclear membranes
enclose respective
chromosomes
 Chromosomes disperse
 Enters interphase II – no
DNA replication occurs

Cytokinesis
Prophase II
 Shortening and thickening of the chromatids.
 Disappearance of nucleoli and nuclear
membrane.
 Centrioles move to the polar regions and are
arranged by spindle fibers.

The new equatorial plane is

rotated by 90 degrees when
compared to meiosis I,
perpendicular to the previous
plane
Metaphase II
 Chromatid pairs attach to spindle fibers at
equator by kinetochores (centromeres).

Anaphase II
 Sister chromatids move to opposite ends
of the cell
 Separation at the kinetochore
Telophase II
 Division of the
cytoplasm
 Formation of nuclear
membrane
 Two sister cells
 Spermatids –
premature sperm
cells

http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/meiosis/page3.html
Spermatogenesis Review
 One primary spermatocyte forms four
sperm cells, each of approximately equal
size
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32

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64 64

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32

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Oogenesis
 The process in which the primary oocyte turns to
an ovum undergoing meiosis.
 During embryonic development specialized cells
oogonium within the ovary divide by mitosis,
producing primitive egg cells.
 Each egg cell begins oogenesis as a primary oocyte.
 Born with a specific number of primary oocytes
 Meiosis comes to a rest during prometaphase I, known as
the dictyate stage.
 Puberty and the estrous cycle trigger continuation of
oogenesis.
Oogenesis – Meiosis I
 Synapsis
 Tetradsform
 Crossing over - Chiasma
 Unequal division of cytoplasmic material
 Result = secondary oocyte and the first polar
body
Oogenesis – Meiosis II
 Secondary oocyte is arrested in Metaphase II
until ovulation
 Sperm penetrates oocyte, rests head in the cytoplasm
 Sperm triggers completion of Meiosis II
 Does not divide until after fertilization (telophase II)
 Second mitotic division forms ootid and a second
polar body
 Ootid undergoes maturation and turns to the ovum.
Polar bodies
 In the horse may
retain one polar
body (secondary)
within the larger
cell (egg) just
below its outer
membrane.
 Other polar
bodies
disintegrate.
Spermatogenesis vs. Oogenesis

 Both start as primordial germ cells.

 The resulting gamete:
1 primitive sperm cell (spermatogonia)
 4 mature sperm
1 primary oocyte (oogonia)
 1 mature egg (ovum)
 Polar bodies
Meiosis I
Meiosis II
Mitosis vs. Meiosis
 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/baby/divi_fl
ash.html