3.

3 Meiosis
Understandings:
1. One diploid nucleus divides by meiosis to produce four haploid nuclei
2. Separation of pairs of homologous chromosomes in the first division of meiosis halves the
chromosome number
3. DNA is replicated before meiosis so that all chromosomes consist of two sister chromatids
4. The early stages of meiosis involve pairing of homologous chromosomes and crossing over followed
by condensation
5. Orientation of pairs of homologous chromosomes prior to separation is random
6. The halving of the chromosome number allows a sexual life cycle with fusion of gametes
7. Crossing over and random orientation promotes genetic variation
8. Fusion of gametes from different parents promotes genetic variation

Applications:
1. Non-disjunction can cause Down syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities
2. Studies showing age of parents influences chances of non-disjunction
3. Description of methods used to obtain cells for karyotype analysis – e.g. chorionic villus sampling
and amniocentesis and the associated risks

Skills:
1. Drawing diagrams to show the stages of meiosis resulting in the formation of four haploid cells
U1. One diploid nucleus divides by meiosis to produce four haploid nuclei
U2. Separation of pairs of homologous chromosomes in the first division of meiosis halves the
chromosome number

Meiosis: Process by which sex cells (gametes) are made in the reproductive organs. It is the reduction
division of a diploid germline cell to 4 distinct haploid nuclei
2 cellular divisions:

1. separates pairs of homologous

chormosomes
a. halve the chromosome
number (diploid 46 >
haploid 23)
2. separate sister chromatid (yg
dibuat di DNA replication di
interphase

U3. DNA is replicated before meiosis so that all chromosomes consist of two sister chromatids

sblm Meiosis, DNA di replicate di S phase ny

interphase (produce 2 identical copies)
 sister chromatids (2 identical DNA molecules)
held together by centromere
 trs sister di separate pas MEOSIS 2, abis
separation of homologous chromosomes di
Meiosis 1
o homologous chromosomes:
chromosome pairs (ONE FROM EACH
PARENT)