Mitosis and Meiosis

Cell Division

Why Do Cells Divide?

For growth, repair, and
reproduction

Cell division functions in

reproduction, growth, and repair
The division of a unicellular organism
reproduces an entire organism.This includes
organisms
that can grow by cuttings or by fission.
For Multicellular organisms, reproduction
involved fusion of haploid gamete. Cell
division importance in production of haploid
gamete (meiosis) also use to repair and
renew cells that die from normal wear and
tear or accidents (mitosis)

 Every eukaryotic species has a

characteristic number of
chromosomes in the nucleus.
Human somatic cells (body cells)
is diploid (2n) with 46
chromosomes.
Human gametes
(sperm or eggs)
is haploid (n) with 23
chromosomes,
half the number in
a somatic cell.

Terminology
Chromatin - thin fibrous
form of DNA and proteins
Sister chromatids- identical
structures that result from
chromosome replication,
formed during S phase

Anatomy of a
Chromosome

p -arm

centromere

q-arm

chromatids

telomere

Centromere point where sister

chromatids are
joined together
P=short arm;
upward
Q=long arm;
downward
Telomere-tips of
chromosome

How Do Cells Divide?

Cell cycle - sequence of

phases in the life cycle of
the cell

Getting ready to split

Cell cycle has two parts:

growth and preparation

(interphase)
Occurs between divisions
Longest part of cycle
3 stages

cell division
mitosis (nuclear division)
cytokinesis (cytoplasm division)

MITOSIS
Mitosis begins after G 2 and ends
before G 1

Prophase
Chromosome
condense
Microtubles form
The nuclear
envelope breaks
down

Metaphase
Chromosomes
are pulled to
center of cell
Line up along
metaphase
plate

Anaphase
Centromeres divide
Spindle fibers pull
one set of
chromosomes to
each pole
Precise alignment
is critical to division

Telophase
Nuclear envelope form around
chromosomes
Chromosomes uncoil
Cytokinesis
animals - pinching of plasma membrane
plants- elongates and the cell plate
forms
( future cell wall and cell membrane)

Meiosis

What is Meiosis?
A division of the nucleus that reduces
chromosome number by half, 2n (46)

n (23)

Important in sexual reproduction

Involves combining the genetic information of
one parent with that of the the other parent to
produce a genetically distinct individual

Terminology
Diploid - two sets of
chromosomes (2n), in
humans 23 pairs or 46 total
Haploid - one set of
chromosomes (n) - gametes
or sex cells, in humans 23
chromosomes

Chromosome Pairing
Homologous pair
each chromosome in pair
are identical to the other
( carry genes for same trait)
only one pair differs - sex
chromosomes X or Y

Phases of Meiosis
A diploid cell replicates its
chromosomes
Two stages of meiosis
Meiosis I and Meiosis II
Only 1 replication

Meiosis I

Prophase I
Similar to mitosis,
chromosome line up next to
their partner during process
synapsis
Chromosome twist each other
and form tetrad
Crossing over happened

 Synapsis - pairing of homologous

chromosomes forming a tetrad.
Crossing over - chromatids of
tetrad exchange parts, genetic
information maybe exchanged

Metaphase I
Tetrads or
homologous
chromosomes
moved by
spindle fiber to
center of cell

Anaphase I
Homologous
chromosomes are
separated
Each chromosome
pulled to opposite
poles

Telophase I
Cytoplasm
divides and
form 2 cells
These are
haploid (1n)

Meiosis II
Daughter cells undergo a
second division; much
like mitosis
NO ADDITIONAL
REPLICATION OCCURS

Prophase II
Chromosom
e condense
again
Microtubles
form

Metaphase II
Chromosomes
are pulled to
center of cell
Line up along
metaphase
plate

Anaphase II
Centromeres
split
Sister chromatid
free from each
other
Chromatid move
to opposite
poles

Telophase II &
Cytokinesis

Spindle fiber
dissolve. Nucleus
and nucleolus
reappear
Four haploid
daughter cells
results from one
original diploid
cell

 Mitosis produces two identical

daughter cells, but meiosis produces
4 very different cells.

Differences between mitosis and meiosis

Asingledivisionofthechromosomes
andthenucleus

Asingledivisionofchromosomesbuta
doubledivisionofnucleus.

Thenumberofchromosomesremains
thesame.

Thenumberofchromosomeishalved.

Homologouschromosomesdonot
associate.

Homologouschromosomesassociateto
formbivalentsinprophaseI.

Chiasmataareneverformed.

Chiasmatamaybeformed.

Crossingoverneveroccurred.

Crossingovermayoccurred.

Daughtercellsareidenticaltoparent
cells.

Daughtercellsaregeneticallydifferent
fromparentalones.

Twodaughtercellsareformed.

Fourdaughtercellsareformed.

Chromosomesshortenandthicken.

Chromosomescoilbutremainlonger
thaninmitosis.

Chromosomesformasinglerowatthe
equatorofthespindle.

Chromosomesformadoublerowatthe
equatorofthespindleduringmetaphase
I.

Chromatidsmovetooppositepoles.

Chromosomesmovetooppositepoles
duringthefirstmeioticdivision.

 Significance of mitosis
GROWTH if a tissue is to extend by growth it is
important that the new cells are identical to the existing
cells.
REPAIR damaged cells must be replaced by exact
copies of the originals if the repair is to return a tissue to
its former condition.
ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION to establish quickly a colony
of individuals which are similar to the parents.

Significance of meiosis
Production and fusion of haploid gametes variety of
offspring is increased by mixing the genotype of one
parent with that of other.
The creation of genetic variety by the random
distribution of chromosomes during metaphase I.
The creation of genetic variety by crossing over between
homologous chromosomes.