PRACTICAL ACTIVITY

EXPERIMENT TITLE: Observation of the stages of meiosis using permanent

prepared slides
Initiating and Planning
The experiment aims to study of stages of meiosis using permanent slides. Meiosis
is a type of cell division in which the number of chromosomes is halved (from
diploid to haploid) in the daughter cells (the gametes). The meiosis is completed
in two phases. Meiosis I is known as reductive division, in which the chromosomes
of homologous pairs separate from each other. Meiosis II is known as equational
division resulting in the formation of four daughter cells. Stages of meiosis can be
observed in a cytological preparation of the cells of testis or in the pollen mother
cells of an anthers of flower buds. Tools and materials for the experiment are
microscopes and permanent prepared slides of different stages of meiosis
Exploring and Recording
1. The slides were mounted on the stage of the microscope and lower
magnification was used to search for the dividing cells.
2. Examine the given slides of different stages of meiosis under different
microscopic powers.
3. The different stages of meiosis were drawn as observed under the
microscope.
Analyzing and interpreting
Meiosis is a process of cell division that form sex cells or gamete for sexual
reproduction. It maintains the constant number of chromosomes in each species
by halving them. It also introduces variations among the progeny by crossing over
of genetic materials. Two stages of meiosis (anaphase I and II) were observed
under the microscope as shown in the diagram. In anaphase I, the homologous
chromosomes were separated, whereas in anaphase II, the sister chromatids were
separated.
Communication and Teamwork
There was effective communication and teamwork in the course of the
experiment. Each student was made to mount his/her particular slides on
microscopes. There was collaboration among the students especially in the
handling of faulty microscopes. Students were also allowed to observe the slides
of other students. In this manner, all the students were able to observe all the
stages of meiosis under the microscope