MEIOSIS

Meiosis occurs in the cells of the gonads i.e testes and ovaries , resulting in the formation of
gametes, sperms and ova, hence it is called the gametogenic division. Meiosis results in the
formation of daughter cells having half the number of chromosomes as present in parent cell,
hence is also known as the reduction division.
THE PROCESS OF MEIOSIS- meiosis involves two cell divisions- the first meiotic division which is
the reduction division , resulting in the formation of 2 haploid daughter cells. The second
meiotic division , involving equational division of the 2 haploid cells, each forming 2 similar
daughter cells.
Thus meiosis results in the formation of four haploid daughter cells from one parent cell.
FIRST MEIOTIC DIVISION
 INTERPHASE I- includes the G1 , S and G2 phases.
 PROPHASE I- this is the longest phase of meiosis. This involves 5 sub-stages.
i) Leptotene(leptos=slender)- the centrioles duplicate, are surrounded by aster
rays and start migrating towards opposite poles. The chromatin material
condenses to form thread like chromosomes. Each chromosome is duplicated
with 2 sister chromatids.
ii) Zygotene( zygos=joining) – the chromosomes thicken and shorten. The
homologous chromosomes approach each other and pair up. This pairing of
homologous chromosomes is called synapsis. The 2 homologous chromosomes
forming a synapsis are called bivalents. The four chromatids of a bivalent are
together called tetrads.
iii) Pacytene(pachys=thick)- chromosomes continue to thicken and shorten. The
inner non-sister chromatids of the bivalents coil around each other , touching
each other at one or more corresponding points. These points of contact are
called chiasmata[sing-chiasma]
iv) Diplotene (diplous=double) the chromatids of the bivalents forming chiasmata
repel each other. This causes the chromatids to break at points where chiasmata
occur. The breakage is accompanied by rejoining in such a way that the
corresponding segments are interchanged between the 2 non-sister chromatids
of the homologous pair. This phenomenon is termed as genetic crossing over.
This plays a significant role in heredity.
v) Diakinesis( dia- through, kinesis-movement)- The chromosomes shorten and
thicken. The homologous chromosomes attached at chiasmata move further
away from each other. The nuclear membrane and nuleolus disappear. The 2 sets
of centrioles reach opposite poles.
 METAPHASE I- spindle fibres appear between the 2 sets of centrioles. The
homologous pair of chromosomes attached at chiasmata arrange at the equatorial
plane in such a way that the 2 members of the homologous pair lie on the opposite
sides of the equatorial plane. The centromere of each chromosome gets attached to
the spindle fibres.
 ANAPHASE I- the partners of the homologous chromosomes migrate towards
opposite poles. The centromere is still undivided and has 2 chromatids attached to it.
With this reduction is brought about as the paired homologous chromosomes are
separated.
 TELOPHASE I- at each pole the nucleus is re-constructed. The daughter nuclei are
haploid, each containing one chromosome of each homologous pair.
This is followed by cytokinesis, resulting in the formation of 2 haploid
daughter cells.
SECOND MEIOTIC DIVISION- each haploid daughter cell from the first meiotic division
now divides mititically to give rise to two haploid daughter cell.
 PROPHASE II, METAPHASE II, ANAPHASE II,TELOPHASE II- events occurring are same
as in mitosis.
SIGNIFICANCE OF MEIOSIS-
1) Meiosis results in formation of haploid gametes. Which after fertilization restore the
original diploid number in the zygote. Thus it is responsible for maintaining the fixed
chromosome number in a species.
2) The phenomenon of genetic crossing over provides new combinations of genes in
chromosomes and hence new characters in the offspring.
3) The 4 chromatids of a homologous pair are passed on to 4 different daughter cells.
This is called segregation of chromososmes It results in different combinations and
hence brings genetical variations in the offspings.
Thus due to genetic crossing over and segregation of chromosomes , meiosis
provides material for evolution.