SET 1: PINK AND BLUE

Crossing over is an event that occurs during prophase 1 of

meiosis.

**Note: all pieces that will come apart are held together with Velcro**

1. First take the blue chromosome and place it on top of the pink
chromosome, aligning one on top of the other. The alleles (colored
bands) should be at the bottom with the lettered points showing. This
structure that has just been created is called a tetrad.

2. Now to demonstrate crossing over, align the blue chromosome and

the pink chromosome side by side with the alleles still at the
bottom. Detach the point A of the pink chromosome and the point B
of the blue chromosome that are nearest to each other.

3. Reattach each piece to the others former position. These spots where
crossing over has occurred are called chiasmata.

4. Separate the 2 sister chromatids of each chromosome by

detaching them at their centromeres/centers (point C on the pink
chromosome and point D on the blue chromosome). You should be
left with 4 single chromosomes/chromatids each containing a
different combination of alleles. Each of these chromosomes will
move into their own haploid cells after meiosis is finished. This is how
meiosis accounts for genetic variation.

***Please put the pieces back to their starting positions when

finished***

**KEY FOR STARTING POSITIONS AND BOLD WORDS ON BACK SIDE**

Pink Chromosome (in starting
position)

Centrome
re

Blue Chromosome (in starting

position)

Alleles

Sister
chromatids