MARCH 24, 2023

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1
MEIOSIS
 Meiosis
• The form of cell division by which gametes,
with half the number of chromosomes, are
produced.

• Diploid (2n) → haploid (n)

• Meiosis is sexual reproduction.

• Two divisions (meiosis I and meiosis II).

 Fertilization
• The fusion of a sperm and egg to form a zygote.
• A zygote is a fertilized egg

sperm
n=23 n=23
egg
2n=46
zygote
 Meiosis
• Sex cells divide to produce gametes (sperm
or egg).
• Gametes have half the # of chromosomes.
• Occurs only in gonads (testes or ovaries).
Male: spermatogenesis
Female: oogenesis

• Meiosis is similar to mitosis with some

chromosomal differences.
Spermatogenesis
n=23
human
sex cell
sperm
n=23
n=23

2n=46
haploid (n)
n=23
diploid (2n) n=23

n=23

meiosis I meiosis II
Meiosis – mouse testes
Parent cell
1st division

2nd division

4 gametes
 Interphase I
• Similar to mitosis interphase.

• Chromosomes replicate (S phase).

• Each duplicated chromosome consist of two

identical sister chromatids attached at their
centromeres.

• Centriole pairs also replicate.

 Interphase I
• Nucleus and nucleolus visible.

chromatin nuclear
membrane

cell membrane

nucleolus
 Meiosis I (four phases)
• Cell division that reduces the chromosome
number by one-half.

• four phases:
a. prophase I
b. metaphase I
c. anaphase I
d. telophase I
 Prophase I
• Longest and most complex phase (90%).
• Chromosomes condense.
• Synapsis occurs: homologous chromosomes
come together to form a tetrad.

• Tetrad is two chromosomes or four

chromatids (sister and nonsister chromatids).
 Prophase I - Synapsis
Homologous chromosomes

sister chromatids sister chromatids

Tetrad
 Homologous Chromosomes
• Pair of chromosomes (maternal and paternal) that are
similar in shape and size.
• Homologous pairs (tetrads) carry genes controlling
the same inherited traits.
• Each locus (position of a gene) is in the same
position on homologues.
• Humans have 23 pairs of homologous chromosomes.

a. 22 pairs of autosomes
b. 01 pair of sex chromosomes
 Karyotype
• A method of organizing the chromosomes of a
cell in relation to number, size, and type.
Homologous Chromosomes

eye color eye color

locus locus

hair color hair color

locus locus

Paternal Maternal
Humans have 23 Sets of Homologous Chromosomes
Each Homologous set is made up of 2 Homologues.
Homologue

Homologue
 Sex Chromosomes
The Sex Chromosomes code for the sex of the offspring.
** If the offspring has two “X” chromosomes it will be a female.
** If the offspring has one “X” chromosome and one “Y”
chromosome it will be a male.

In Humans the
“Sex
Chromosomes”
are the 23rd set

XX chromosome - female XY chromosome - male

 Boy or Girl? The Y Chromosome “Decides”

Y chromosome
X chromosome
 Crossing Over
• Crossing over (variation) may occur between
nonsister chromatids at the chiasmata.
• Crossing over: segments of nonsister
chromatids break and reattach to the other
chromatid.
• Chiasmata (chiasma) are the sites of crossing
over.
 Crossing Over - variation
nonsister chromatids Tetrad

chiasmata: site variation

of crossing over
 Prophase I
spindle fiber centrioles

aster
fibers
 Metaphase I
• Shortest phase
• Tetrads align on the metaphase plate.
• INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT OCCURS:
1. Orientation of homologous pair to poles is random.
2. Variation
3. Formula: 2n
Example: 2n = 4
then n = 2
thus 22 = 4 combinations
 Metaphase I

OR

metaphase plate metaphase plate

 Anaphase I
• Homologous chromosomes separate and
move towards the poles.

• Sister chromatids remain attached at their

centromeres.
Anaphase I
 Telophase I
• Each pole now has haploid set of
chromosomes.

• Cytokinesis occurs and two haploid daughter

cells are formed.
Telophase I
 Meiosis II
• No interphase II
(or very short - no more DNA replication)

• Remember: Meiosis II is similar to mitosis

 Prophase II
• same as prophase in mitosis
 Metaphase II
• same as metaphase in mitosis

metaphase plate metaphase plate

 Anaphase II
• same as anaphase in mitosis
• sister chromatids separate
 Telophase II
• Same as telophase in mitosis.
• Nuclei form.
• Cytokinesis occurs.

• Remember: four haploid daughter cells

produced.

gametes = sperm or egg

Telophase II
 Meiosis
n=2

sex cell sperm

n=2
n=2

2n=4
haploid (n)
n=2
diploid (2n) n=2

n=2

meiosis I meiosis II
 Variation
• Important to population as the raw
material for natural selection.

• Question:
What are the three sexual sources of
genetic variation?
 Answer:
1. crossing over (prophase I)

2. independent assortment (metaphase I)

3. random fertilization

Remember: variation is good!

 Question:
• A cell containing 20 chromosomes (diploid)
at the beginning of meiosis would, at its
completion, produce cells containing how
many chromosomes?
 Answer:
• 10 chromosomes (haploid)
 Fertilization
• The fusion of a sperm and egg to form a zygote.
• A zygote is a fertilized egg

sperm
n=23 n=23
egg
2n=46
zygote
 Question:
• A cell containing 40 chromatids at the
beginning of meiosis would, at its completion,
produce cells containing how many
chromosomes?
 Answer:
• 10 chromosomes
 Sources
• www.ursulinehs.org/powerpoint/meiosi
s.ppt
• www.biology4teachers.com/Cell%20Divi
sion/MEIOSIS.ppt
• http://www.iteachbio.com/Life%20Scien
ce/LifeFunctionsandTheCell/Meiosis.ppt