Topic 10.

MEIOSIS
Topic Outline AUDIO

 Purpose of Meiosis

 Interphase

 Meiosis I

 Meiosis II

 Random Assortment

 Chiasmata

 Crossing Over

Meiosis leads to independent assortment of chromosomes and unique composition of alleles in cells
Purpose of Meiosis

Meiotic divisions complete two functions that are distinct from mitotic divisions:

Reduction Division
• Meiosis halves chromosome number, resulting in haploid gamete formation
• Diploid number is reconstituted by fertilisation (via sexual reproduction)

Genetic Rearrangement
• Meiosis produces gametes that are genetically distinct (promotes variation)
• This inheritable variation occurs via random assortment and crossing over
Process of Meiosis

Meiosis is the process of making haploid sex cells (gametes) via three key events:
• It is preceded by interphase, which copies chromosomal DNA (sister chromatids)
• Meiosis I (reduction division) separates the homologous chromosomes (2n → n)
• Meiosis II (mitotic division) separates the sister chromatids (genetically distinct)

I MI MII
Interphase

DNA is replicated during the S phase of interphase

• Replicated chromosomes will consist of genetically identical sister chromatids

This replication of DNA means that the process of meiosis requires two divisions
• The second division separates the two sister chromatids created by interphase

single chromatid S phase sister chromatid

chromosome chromosome
(pre-replication) (post-replication)

Chromosomes replicate in interphase before meiosis

 Meiosis I

The first meiotic division functions to separate the homologous chromosomes

• It is a reduction division that results in the formation of 2 haploid daughter cells
• It involves four key stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase
• It may be followed by a second growth and preparation phase (interkinesis)
MEIOSIS I

P-I M-I A-I T-I

Homologous chromosomes separate in meiosis I

 Meiosis II

The second meiotic division functions to separate the sister chromatids

• It is a mitotic division to separate the duplicated DNA sequences (chromatids)
• Sister chromatids may not be identical if recombination occurs during meiosis I
MEIOSIS II

P-II M-II A-II T-II

Sister chromatids separate in meiosis II

Overview of Meiosis

Definition:
Meiosis is the division of a diploid cell to
produce 4 genetically distinct haploid cells

Meiotic division:
• Occurs in sex cells (gametes)
• Involves two divisions
• Produces four daughter cells Watch the above video outlining
• Daughter cells are genetically distinct the mitotic division of a cell
Genetic Variation

Meiosis produces haploid gametes that are genetically distinctive ( variation)

• This is in contrast to mitosis which produces cells that are identical clones

There are two mechanisms by which meiosis produces distinctive gametes:

• Crossing over between non-sister chromatids (prophase I)
• Random assortment of homologous chromosomes (metaphase I)

Additionally, the fusion of gametes from different parents via sexual reproduction
will further promote genetic variation in offspring (increasing overall biodiversity)
Synapsis

During Prophase I, homologous chromosomes become connected via synapsis

• This allows connected chromosomes to be arranged for a reduction division
• The connected homologous chromosomes are known as bivalents (or tetrads)

Sister
chromatids

Homologous
chromosomes

Crossing over is the exchange of DNA material between non-sister homologous chromatids
Chiasmata

In synapsis, non-sister chromatids may recombine with their homologous partner

• These points of genetic exchange leave physical connections called chiasmata

How many chiasmata

are present in this
electron micrograph?

Answer
?
Chiasmata formation between non-sister chromatids can result in an exchange of alleles
Crossing Over

Crossing over is the exchange of DNA between non-sister homologous chromatids

• The genetic exchange results in the formation of recombinant chromosomes
• These recombinant chromosomes will possess unique combinations of alleles

Homologous pair Crossing over Recombination

Crossing over produces new combinations of alleles on the chromosomes of haploid cells
Recombinant Chromosomes

Chiasmata are represented as points of overlap between non-sister chromatids

• Genetic exchange is best shown if homologous chromosomes are coloured

Chiasma

Homologous Pair Bivalent / tetrad ‘Daughter’ chromosomes

Drawing diagrams to show chiasmata formed by crossing over

Random Assortment

During Metaphase I, homologous chromosomes line up in a random orientation

• There is an equal chance of the resulting gamete containing either of the pair

• As humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes, there are 223 gamete combinations

Parent Cell Potential Gamete Combinations

Independent assortment of genes is due to random orientation of pairs of homologous chromosomes

Topic Review

Can you do the following?

• Describe the process of interphase

• Identify the key stages of meiosis I
• Identify the key stages of meiosis II
• Outline the process of synapsis / crossing over
• Draw chiasmata and recombinant chromosomes
• Explain how crossing over promotes variation
• Explain how independent assortment occurs