Meiotic Cell Division

Sexual Reproduction
Sexual reproduction is the most common way for eukaryotic organisms to produce offspring Parents make gametes with half the amount of genetic material (haploid) These gametes fuse with each other during fertilization to generate a new organism

Gametes
Simple eukaryotes are isogamous
They produce gametes that are morphologically similar

Most eukaryotic species are heterogamous

These produce gametes that are morphologically different
Sperm cells
Relatively small and mobile

Oocytes or ova
Usually large and nonmobile Store large amounts of nutrients

Microspores (Pollen) Macrospores (Ovules)

How Does One Make a Haploid Answer meiosis Gamete?

Haploid cells are produced from diploid cells during gametogenesis The chromosomes must be distributed to reduce the chromosome number to half its original value but simultaneously sorted to assure that each chromosome (& its genes) is represented in each gamete

Mitosis
Produces two diploid daughter cells Produces daughter cells that ARE genetically identical

vs

Meiosis

Produce four haploid daughter cells Produces daughter cells that are NOT genetically identical

Meiosis
Meiosis begins after a cell has progressed through G1, S, & G2 Meiosis involves two successive divisions
Meiosis I and II Each of these is subdivided into
Prophase Metaphase Anaphase Telophase

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Meiosis
Prophase I is further subdivided into periods known as
Leptotena Zygotena Pachytena Diplotena Diakinesis

A total of 4 chromatids

A recognition process

Figure 3.11

Synaptonemal Complex

Periods of Prophase I

A tetrad

2 bivalents

A physical exchange of chromosome pieces

Stages of Meiosis I
Spindle apparatus complete; pairs of chromatids attached to kinetochore microtubules

 Bivalents are organized along the metaphase plate Homologous pairs of sister chromatids aligned side by side
A pair of sister chromatids is linked to one of the poles And the homologous pair is linked to the opposite pole The arrangement is random with regards to the (blue and red) homologues
Figure 3.13

Stages of Meiosis I
Pairs of sister chromatids separate from each other The centromere remains between sister chromatids

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Meiosis
Telophase I & cytokinesis of meiosis I is followed meiosis II Meiosis I has reduced the number of chromosomes in the daughter cells to the the diploid number However, each homolog is still composed of 2 recombinant sister chromatids
The genetic content is still 2n

Meiosis II reduces the genetic content to n

Stages of Meiosis II

1 of each type of chromosome (n) in each daughter cell (gamete)

Separation of Alleles During Meiosis

Heterozygous (Yy) cell from a plant with yellow seeds Prophase I
y yY Y

Metaphase I

Anaphase I Telophase I
y y Y Y

Meiosis II
y y
Y Y

Haploid cells

Separation of Alleles During Meiosis

r r y Y Y Heterozygous diploid cell (YyRr) to undergo meiosis R R y y Y Meiosis I or R r r R y

Meiosis II
y y

Y Y

r r

R R

y R R 2 Ry

y r :

Y r 2 rY

Y r

y r 2 ry

y R :

Y R

2 RY