MEIOSIS

Sexual reproduction at the

cellular level
 Meiosis
• The form of cell division by which gametes, with
half the number of chromosomes, are produced.

• Diploid (2n)  haploid (n)

• Meiosis is required for sexual reproduction.

• Two divisions
– meiosis I and meiosis II.
II
 Meiosis
• Sex cells (also known germ cells) divide to
produce gametes (sperm or egg).
• Gametes have half the # of chromosomes.
• Occurs only in gonads (testes or ovaries).
Male: spermatogenesis
Female: oogenesis

• Meiosis is similar to mitosis with some key

chromosomal differences.
 Meiosis n=2

germ cell
n=2
n=2 sex cells
(sperm,
2n=4 haploid (n) eggs, ovules,
pollen)
n=2
diploid (2n) n=2

n=2

meiosis I meiosis II
 Interphase I
• Similar to mitosis interphase.

• Chromosomes replicate (S phase).

• Each duplicated chromosome consists 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
 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. 1 pair of sex chromosomes
Homologous Chromosomes

eye color eye color

locus locus

hair color hair color

locus locus

Paternal Maternal
 Sex Chromosomes

XX chromosome - female XY chromosome - male

 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 (sister and nonsister chromatids).
 Prophase I - Synapsis
Homologous chromosomes

sister chromatids sister chromatids

Tetrad
 Crossing Over

• segments of nonsister chromatids break and

reattach to the other chromatid.
chromatid
• This is an important source of genetic variation.
 Crossing Over - variation
nonsister chromatids Tetrad

chiasmata: site variation

of crossing over
Crossing over
•Now, chromatids
Paternal A and
Maternal a are
changed from their
original form.
•This is a source of
genetic variation.
variation
The DNA is a
mixture of genes
that has never
existed before.
 Prophase I
spindle fiber
centrioles
 Metaphase I
• Shortest phase
• Tetrads align on the metaphase plate.
plate

OR

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

• Sister chromatids remain attached at their

centromeres.
centromeres
 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

Prophase II
Metaphase II
Anaphase II
Telophase II
Remember:
Meiosis II is very 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
Spermatogenesis
n=23

Male germ cell

n=23
n=23

2n=46 haploid (n) sperm

n=23
diploid (2n) n=23

n=23

meiosis I meiosis II
 Oogenesis
n=23 egg

Female germ cell

n=23
n=23
2n=46
haploid (n)
polar
n=23
n=23 bodies
diploid (2n)

n=23

meiosis I meiosis 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
 Genetic Variation
• Important to population as the raw
material for natural selection.

• Question:
What are the three sources of genetic
variation during sexual
reproduction?
 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)
 Karyotype
• A method of organizing the chromosomes of a
cell in relation to number, size, and type.
Karyotype
Question
What is the
sex of this
person?
Answer

MALE
 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