EXPERIMENT NO.

05
To study meiosis in onion bud cells
through permanent slide.
 Objective. To study meiosis in onion bud cells through permanent slide.
REQUIREMENTTS
Permanent slide of different
stages of meiosis in onion bud cells, microscope.

PROCEDURE
1. Fix the permanent slide under the
2.
microscope.
First observe the slide under the low and then under
power high power of the microscope.
OBSERVATIONS
Under the high power of microscope, following stages of meiosis are distinctly observed:
A. Meiosis I
1. Prophase I. It is of long duration and has five sub stages
(a) Leptotene
(7) Chromatin fibres condense and form thick thread like structures called chromo-
somes.
(ii) Nuclear envelop and nucleolus are distinct.
(b) Zygotene
() Homologous chromosomes form pairs called bivalent. This pairing is called
synapsis.
(ii) The individual of a pair are similar in length and in position of their centromere.
(c) Pachytene
(i) The two chromatids of each chromosome become visible, so that a bivalent be-
comes a tetrad.
(ii) Crossing over (exchange of chromatid segments between homologous chromo-
somes) takes place between non-sister chromatids of homologous chromo
(d) Diplotene
) The two chromosomes of each bivalent move away and homologues are held to-
gether at one or m o r e points called chiasmata.
(e) Diakinesis
i) Homologous chromosomes appear thick and ring shaped.
(i) Nucleolus and nuclear envelope disappear and spindle begins to be formed.
2. Metaphase I
) The bivalent (homologous chromosomes) arrange themselves at the equator of the
spindle.
(ii) The spindle get attached to the centromere of the chromosome.
3. Anaphase I
(i) The two chromosomes of each bivalent move to the opposite pole.

ci) Each pole has half the number of chromosomes with two chromatids each.
4. Telophase I
i) The chromosome at each pole uncoil, and nucleolus and nuclear envelope reappear
(ii) Cytokinesis occurs to form two haploid daughter cells.
Interkinesis
A very short interphase may intervene between meiosis I and meiosis II.

d e

Leptotene Zygotene Pachytene

Diplotene Diakinesis Metaphase-l

Anaphase-l Telophase- Prophase-ll

WIL

Metaphase-ll Anaphase-ll Telophase-ll

Fig. 12.1. Various stages of meiosis in onion floral bud.
B. Meiosis II
It includes following four stages
1. Prophase II
() The chromosomes of daughter cell begin to condense and become thick.
(ii) Nuclear envelope and nucleolus begin to disappear
2. Metaphase II
() The chromosomes are arranged on the equator of the spindle.
(ii) Each chromosome is held by the spindle at the centromere to both the poles.
3. Anaphase II
T h e Sister chromatids (daughter chromosomes) of each chromosomes separate and
migrate towards the opposite poles.
(iü) Each pole, thus receives haploid number of chromosomes.
4. Telophase II
) The chromosomes begin to uncoil and become thin.
(ii) The nuclear envelope and nucleolus are reconstituted.
Cytokinesis occurs and four daughter cells are formed, each with haploid number of
chromosomes.

PRECAUTIONSS
1. Floral buds should be fixed between 8 to 10 A.M.
2. Slide should be warmed gently to avoid over heating.