MEIOSIS

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).

II
 Fertilization
• The fusion of a sperm and egg to form a zygote.
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).
egg)
• Gametes have half the # of chromosomes.
chromosomes
• Occurs only in gonads (testes or ovaries).
Male: spermatogenesis
Female: oogenesis
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.
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:
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
• Tetrad is two chromosomes or four
chromatids
 Prophase I - Synapsis
Homologous chromosomes

sister chromatids sister chromatids

Tetrad
 Homologous Chromosomes
• Pair of chromosomes (maternal and paternal)
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
Homologous Chromosomes

eye color eye color

locus locus

hair color hair color

locus locus

Paternal Maternal
 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.
chiasmata
• Crossing over:
over segments of nonsister
chromatids break and reattach to the other
chromatid.
chromatid
• Chiasmata (chiasma) are the sites of crossing
over.
over
 Crossing Over - variation
nonsister chromatids Tetrad

chiasmata: site variation

of crossing over
Another Way Meiosis Makes Lots of
Different Sex Cells – Crossing-Over

Crossing-over multiplies the already huge number of

different gamete types produced by independent
 Sex Chromosomes

XX chromosome - female XY chromosome - male

 Prophase I
spindle fiber
centrioles

aster
fibers
 Metaphase I
• Shortest phase
• Tetrads align on the metaphase plate.
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

 Question:
• In terms of Independent Assortment -
how many different combinations of
sperm could a human male produce?
 Answer
• Formula: 2n
• Human chromosomes: 2n = 46
n = 23

• 223 = ~8 million combinations

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

• Sister chromatids remain attached at their

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

• Cytokinesis occurs and two haploid daughter

cells are formed.
Telophase I
 Meiosis II
• No interphase II
(or very short - no more DNA replication)
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.
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?
chromosomes
 Answer:
• 10 chromosomes (haploid)
 Fertilization
• The fusion of a sperm and egg to form a zygote.
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?
chromosomes
 Answer:
• 10 chromosomes
 Sources
• www.ursulinehs.org/powerpoint/
meiosis.ppt
• www.biology4teachers.com/Cell
%20Division/MEIOSIS.ppt
• http://www.iteachbio.com/Life
%20Science/
LifeFunctionsandTheCell/Meiosis.ppt