Meiosis:

Solving the Case

of the Great Divide
Deborah Ramsey
September 18, 2014
The Clues to Solving the Case:
Why is there diversity?
Overview of meiosis
Meiosis I
Meiosis II
Video Review
Summary
1
2
3
4
5
6
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Why is there diversity?
Genetic diversity is easy to see
Skin tone, hair color, eye color
Members of the same family can show genetic
diversity
Height, curly or straight hair
Some diseases run in families
Sickle cell anemia, breast cancer
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Why is there diversity?
Diversity is measured by the U.S. Census data
See this link for diversity data from the state of
Alabama (2010)
How is genetic diversity achieved at the cellular
level?
What cellular processes are involved that make
diversity possible?
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Overview of Meiosis
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Definition
Meiosis is the process of cell division that
produces daughter cells with one half of the
number of chromosomes as the parent or
somatic cell.
2N N
Overview of Meiosis
END
Meiosis divides the number of chromosomes in half
Human cells have 2 sets of chromosomes (diploid;
2N)
23 from mom + 23 from dad = 46 chromosomes
The gametes (sperm or egg) have 1 set of
chromosomes (haploid; N)
For humans, N = 23
Overview of Meiosis
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1 interphase + 2 cell divisions
1. Interphase before meiosis 2. Meiosis I 3. Meiosis I
2 1 3
Meiosis I
Goals:
Homologous chromosomes come together
Human genomes are made up of
chromosomes from both the father and the
mother: homologous chromosomes
Each parent contributes one chromosome to
their offspring
END
Meiosis I
Goals:
Homologous chromosomes are similar
(contain the same types genes), but there
are slight differences between the
chromosomes
Example: Fathers chromosome encodes
for blue eyes, whereas the mothers
chromosome encodes for brown eyes
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Meiosis I
Goals:
Homologous chromosomes come together to
form a tetrad.
An exchange of genetic material occurs
between the homologous chromosomes in a
process known as crossing over.
END
Meiosis I
END
Meiosis I: Homologous
chromosomes separate
Sister
chromatids
Tetrad
Sites of crossing over
Spindle
Prophase I
Homologous
chromosomes
pair and exchange
segments
Cleavage
furrow
Telophase I
and Cytokinesis
Two haploid cells
form: chromosomes
are still double
Microtubules attached
to Chromosomes
Centromere
Metaphase I
Tetrads line up
Sister chromatids
remain attached
Anaphase I
Pairs of homologous
chromosomes
split up
Meiosis II
Goals:
Separation of sister chromatids
Cell division and formation of haploid cells
END
END
Meiosis II:
Sister chromatids separate
Anaphase II
Telophase II
and Cytokinesis
Sister chromatids
separate
Haploid daughter cells
forming
Prophase II
Metaphase II
Meiosis II
During another round of cell division, the sister chromatids finally separate;
four haploid daughter cells result, containing single chromosomes
Video Review
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Summary: Part 1
Genetic diversity is achieved at a cellular level
through the process of meiosis.
Meiosis produces haploid daughter cells or
gametes, which contain half as many
chromosomes as the somatic (parent) cell.
END
Summary: Part 2
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The goals of Meiosis I are to:
Bring homologous chromosomes together in a
tetrad
Allow homologous recombination to occur
Form daughter cells (2N)
Summary: Part 3
END
The goals of Meiosis II are to:
Begin a second round of cell division
Have sister chromatids separate
Form haploid daughter cells or gametes (N)