Earth and Life Science 11

Meiosis and Reproduction

Reproduction- Reproduction is the capacity to give rise to new individuals or offspring, is
the single fundamental manifestation of life that allows perpetuity of living species.

Two Modes of Reproduction

1. Sexual Reproduction- Requires two parental units. The parental units each contribute
genetic material which is combined during the fusion of gametes in fertilization.

2. Asexual Reproduction- Requires only one parental unit and has no need for specialized
organs to proceed. It relies only on the concept of mitosis

Meiosis- A type of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of
chromosomes in gametes (the sex cells, or egg and sperm). It is also called as a reduction
division.
To maintain this state, the egg and sperm that unite during fertilization must be haploid, with a
single set of chromosomes. During meiosis, each diploid cell undergoes two rounds of division
to yield four haploid daughter cells — the gametes.
Meiosis I Meiosis II
P-I: Chromosomes condense, nuclear P-II: Chromosomes condense, nuclear
membrane dissolves, homologous membrane dissolves, centrosomes move to
chromosomes form bivalents, crossing over opposite poles (perpendicular to before)
occurs M-II: Spindle fibres from opposing
M-I: Spindle fibres from opposing centrosomes attach to chromosomes (at
centrosomes connect to bivalents (at centromere) and align them along the cell
centromeres) and align them along the equator
middle of the cell A-II: Spindle fibres contract and separate the
A-I: Spindle fibres contract and split the sister chromatids, chromatids (now called
bivalent, homologous chromosomes move to chromosomes) move to opposite poles
opposite poles of the cell T-II: Chromosomes decondense, nuclear
T-I: Chromosomes decondense, nuclear membrane reforms, cells divide (cytokinesis)
membrane may reform, cell divides to form four haploid daughter cells
(cytokinesis) to form two haploid daughter
cells