10.

1 Meiosis
Traits- characteristics you are
born with !
ex: hair color, eye color, attached earlobes!
!
The instructions are coded in DNA,
located in your chromosomes!
!

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Each chromosome contains
hundreds of genes !
(humans have about 30,000 genes)

Genes- segments of DNA that

control the production of a protein.!
!
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Human cells have 46 chromosomes, !
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or 23 pairs (one from each parent).!
!
!
homologous chromosomes- !
pairs of chromosomes !
-same length!
-same centromere position!
-carry genes for the same traits!

Karyotype
Chromosome numbers:
•  Ciliated protozoa- 15,000
•  Butterfly- 268
•  Fern- 184
•  Hedgehog- 90
•  Sheep- 54
•  Human- 46
•  Tiger- 38
•  Cabbage- 18
•  Koala- 16
•  Fruit Fly- 8
gametes – sex cells with half the
number of chromosomes !
Ex: egg and sperm!
!
To maintain the same number of
chromosomes from generation to generation,
organisms produce gametes.!
 Haploid- a cell with n chromosomes !
Diploid- a cell with 2n chromosomes!
!
n = number of chromosomes in a gamete !
!

Skin cell- hair cell- sperm cell-

Meiosis - cell division that reduces
the number of chromosomes -
produces gametes
!
Requires two cell divisions, !
meiosis I and meiosis II!
!

!
Meiosis I

Interphase
-DNA replicates.!
-Chromatin condenses.!
!

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Prophase I
-Pairing of homologous chromosomes
(one from mom, one from dad)!
-Each chromosome consists of two sister
chromatids (exact copies)!
!

!
 Synapsis- a process during
prophase/condensation which allows
for crossing over. !
Crossing over – DNA is exchanged
between homologous chromosomes.!
!

Homologous chromosomes- sister chromatids

Metaphase I
centromeres attach to spindle fibers!
Homologous chromosomes line up
as a pair in the middle (equator)!

!
!

!
Anaphase I
Homologous chromosomes move
apart.!
chromosome number reduced
from 2n to n!
!

!
 Telophase I
Chromosomes reach opposite
poles.!
!
Cytokinesis.!
!

Copyright © McGraw-Hill Education Meiosis!

Meiosis II - second set of phases !
!
!
**no second interphase**

Prophase II
spindle apparatus forms and
chromosomes condense!
!
Metaphase II
Chromosomes line up in the
middle (equator)!
haploid number of
chromosomes!

!
!
Anaphase II
Sister chromatids pulled
apart and move toward poles!
!

!
Telophase II
chromosomes reach the poles!
nuclear membranes reform!
!
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!
!

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Cytokinesis results in four
haploid cells (n chromosomes)!
!

Each nucleus has !

slightly different DNA!
!
Mitosis!
one cell division !
two diploid (2n) cells!
identical!
Meiosis !
two cell divisions !
four haploid (n) daughter cells !
not genetically identical.!
•  Meiosis = genetic variation.!
The Importance of Meiosis- variation
•  During prophase I, chromosomes
line up randomly.!
•  Gametes end up with different
combinations of chromosomes.!
•  Genetic variation also comes from
crossing over and randomness of
fertilization!
!

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Asexual reproduction (ex: mitosis)!
• organism inherits all
chromosomes from one
parent!
• offspring is genetically
identical to its parent.!
!

!
Sexual reproduction (ex: meiosis)!
Rate of beneficial mutations is
faster. !
Beneficial genes multiply faster
than for asexual organisms. !
!