Meiosis

 Meiosis happens when a whole organism reproduces itself.

 The reproductive cells (eggs and sperm) unite to produce the first body cell of a new
organism.
 Reproductive cells have half the number of chromosomes found in a regular body cell, so
they must be made by a special process.
 A cell splits to create four new cells, but the new cells have only half the chromosomes of the
dividing cell.
 Meiosis occurs in two stages: meiosis I and meiosis II. Both stages are described in the
following list.
 As in mitosis, the cell makes a copy of its DNA before starting meiosis.
 The steps of meiosis are similar to the steps of mitosis, but with a few important
changes.
 After meiosis takes place, one living thing can combine its cells with the cells of another
living thing to create a new being.
Prophase I. DNA condenses into structures called
chromosomes and the nucleus disappears.
Metaphase I. Chromosomes line up in matching
pairs. Matching pairs of chromosomes trade
segments in process called crossing over.
Anaphase I. One chromosome from each pair
moves to the opposite side of the cell.
Telophase I. The cell splits in two.
Prophase II. Two cells have the same number of
chromosomes as the original. Unlike prophase I, during
this phase there is no new replication of DNA.
Metaphase II. Individual chromosomes line up in each
cell.
Anaphase II. Chromosomes split into chromatids.
Chromatids move to opposite sides of the cell.
Telophase II. A nucleus reforms around each set of
chromatids. Each cell splits in two again.
# Notice that the final result of meiosis is four
reproductive cells, each with half the DNA of a regular
body cell.