Meiosis and Sexual

Reproduction
Chapter 10
 Introducing Alleles
• Asexual reproduction- all offspring inherit
the same number and kinds of genes from
single parent.
• Genes- are sequences of chromosomal DNA.
• Sexual reproduction- process involving
meiosis, formation of gametes, and
fertilization (a union of two gametes).
• The first cell of a new individual holds a pair
of genes from each parent.
• Allele- a unique molecular form of the same
gene.
• Sexual Reproduction- offspring inherit new
combinations of alleles, which lead to
 Meiosis
• Meiosis- sorts out chromosomes into
parcels not once but twice.
• Chromosome number- the sum total of
chromosomes in cells of a given type.
• Diploid number- 2n it has a pair of each
type of chromosome, often from two
parents.
• Homologous Chromosomes- are the
same length, shape, and assortment of
genes.
• Meiosis reduces the number of
chromosomes from diploid to haploid
 Cont.
• Meiosis is similar to mitosis.
– In meiosis germ cell duplicate themselves in
interpahse.
– The 2 DNA strands stay attached at the
centromere. (called sister chromatids)
– The microtubules of the spindle apparatus
move the chromosomes to different locations.
– Chromosomes go through 2 consecutive
divisions that end with the formation of 4
haploid cells.
– Meiosis has two phases meiosis 1 which
includes prophase 1, metaphase 1, anaphase
1, and telophase 1 and meiosis 2 which
 Cont.
• Once the two chromosomes have aligned
they separate.
• The cytoplasm starts to separate forming
two new cells.
• Meiosis two begins after this stage.
• The two sister chromatids of each
chromosome are separated from each other.
• This makes 4 parcels of 23 chromosomes
and each has 1 chromosome of each type.
• The nuclear envelope starts to form making
4 new haploid cells.
Meiosis Introduces Variations in
Traits
• During prophase 1 the homologous chromosomes
swap parts of themselves.
• The chromatids of one become stitched point by point
along their length to the chromatids of the other, with
little space between them.
• This tight junction favors crossing over a molecular
interaction between a chromatid of one chromosome
and a chromatid of the homologous partner.
• DNA strands break and seal in ways so that genes are
swapped.
• When genes are in a slightly different form they are
called alleles.
• The number of alleles on 1 chromosome will not be
identical to their partners.
• Each crossover event gives the genes a slightly
 Cont.
• Crossing over leads to recombination's
among genes of homologous
chromosomes.
• Metaphase 1 microtubules from both
poles have now aligned all of the
duplicated chromosomes at the spindle
equator.
• Because tethering is random either
partner can end up at either pole.
• There are many different combinations
that can occur with crossing over with
 Gametes to Offsprings
• Sporophyte- a muilticelled spore-producing
body that makes sexual spores by meiosis.
• Spore- is a haploid reproductive cell that is not
a gamete and that does not take part in
fertilization.
• Gametophyte- is spores undergoing mitotic cell
divisions.
• Diploid germ cells give rise to gametes.
• Male germ cells give rise to primary
spermatocyte, the cells then goes through
meiosis and cytoplasmic division and four
haploid cells develop into spermatids.
• The cells then undergo changes to produce
sperm, which are mature gametes.
 Cont.
• In females germ cells become primary
oocytes.
• Primary oocyte divides after meiosis 1,
producing a secondary oocyte which gets
nearly all of the cytoplasm.
• The other cell becomes a polar body.
• Both cells enter meiosis 2, then one of the
daughter cells becomes the second polar
body.
• The other daughter cell gets most of the
cytoplasm and develops into a gamete.
• The mature female gamete is an ovum or
egg.
 Cont.
• Fertilization is the time when a
female and male gamete unite and
their haploid nuclei fuse.
• During prophase 1 every human
chromosomes undergoes an average
of two or three crossovers.