Meiosis

Meiosis
 Type of cell division

One germ cell makes 4 gametes

with ½ the # of chromosomes

Occurs only in germ cells in gonads

○ testes /ovaries
Occurs in flowers
○ ovary and anther
Sperm
surrounding
an egg
 This shows how only one single sperm gets to penetrate the
egg, releasing its nucleus of 23 chromosomes to merge with
the nucleus of the egg and its 23 chromosomes.
 Homologous Chromosomes
 Pairs of chromosomes similar in shape , size, and types of
genes.
 Each locus (location of the gene) in same position on chrom.

 Humans have 23 pairs of homologues

 Housefly – 6 prs
 Chicken – 39 prs
 Apple – 17 prs
 Dog – 39 prs
 Cat – 19 prs

This is a karyotype
(an image of an organism’s
chromosomes)
This is a karyotype of a
normal human male
Homologous Chromosomes

eye color eye color

locus locus

hair color hair color

locus locus

Paternal Maternal
(from Dad) (from Mom)
 Prophase I

 Longest and most complex phase (90%).

 Chromosomes condense.
 Synapsis - a process: when homologous
chromosomes come together, pair up, form a
tetrad.
 Prophase I - Synapsis
Nonsister chromatids

sister chromatids sister chromatids

Tetrad
 Prophase I - Crossing Over

 Crossing over may

occur in the tetrad:
between nonsister
chromatids, ends
break and reattach
 Crossing Over - Provides Variation
nonsister chromatids Tetrad

Chiasma: site of variation

crossing over
 Metaphase I
 Shortest phase; paired homologues align.
 INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT occurs
 pairs of homologues line up independently of other pairs’
orientation toward the poles -- random. Adds variation.
Anaphase I
 Homologous chromosomes separate towards
the poles (Tetrads separate)
 Sister chromatids remain attached
 Telophase I

 Each pole now has haploid set of chromosomes

(however – still doubled).
 Cytokinesis occurs: two haploid daughter cells
formed.
 Meiosis II
 No interphase II
( no more DNA replication)
 Meiosis II is similar to mitosis

Prophase II / Metaphase
II
Anaphase II
 Telophase II
 Same as telophase in mitosis.
 Nuclei form.
 Cytokinesis occurs (2nd time).
 Four haploid daughter cells produced
(chromosomes now back to single condition).
gametes ~ sperm or egg; ovule or pollen
grain
 Gamete Formation in Animals
 Diff. bet. male and female gametes.

Male: spermatogenesis
 all 4 develop into sperm cells.

Female: oogenesis
cytokinesis in meiosis is uneven.
 most of cytoplasm goes into 1 of the 4 meiotic products
(forms large egg cell)
 3 other cells are small “polar bodies”, break down (extra
chromosomes lost).
Spermatogenesis
n=23
human
germ cell in n=23 sperm
testes Still doubled
chromosomes n=23

2n = 46
haploid (n)
n=23
n=23
Still doubled
diploid (2n) chromosomes

n=23
meiosis I
meiosis II
Oogenesis 23
human germ cell
in ovary Polar
n=23
Still doubled 23 Bodies

2n = 46 23

n=23
Still doubled

diploid (2n) Ovum

n=23
meiosis I
meiosis II
 Mitosis vs Meiosis
 Mitosis  Meiosis
Body (somatic cells)
2 daughter cells made
(identical)
Each w/ same # & kind
of chrom. as parent cell
1 division process
1 cytokinesis
No synapsis or
crossing over
Are diploid (2n)
Germ cells of gonads
4 gamete cells made
(all different)
Each w/ ½ chrom. # as
parent cell
2 divisions
2 cytokineses events
Synapsis &
crossing over occurs
in Prophase 1
Are haploid (n)
Chromosome numbers:
 However many  Body cells
“types” of (somatic cells)
chromosomes an therefore have a
organism has, that “2n” # (diploid)
number is the “n”
number of  Gametes have
chromosomes it “n” # (haploid)
has.
 For humans,
2n = 46
n = 23
Nondisjunction
 When the tetrad (in Anaphase I) or
the sister chromatids (in Anaphase II)
do not separate, creating an abnormal #
of chrom. to occur in the gametes.

 Lethal most of the time

Fertilization
Karyotype… male
Karyotype… female