TITLE:

AIM:

MODELS OF MEIOSIS
To construct models of meiosis showing crossing over in one pair of homologous
chromosomes which results in gametes of four different types.

APPARATUS / MATERIALS:

Paper, pipe cleaners, scotch tape, white thread, pencil,

coloured pencils, eraser, post-it tags, permanent marker

METHOD:
(i)

Appropriate coloured pipe cleaners were used to construct a model

showing the structure of a bivalent at the end of prophase of meiosis I.
Pipe cleaners were twisted around each other to show one chiasma. White
ties were used to represent centromeres. The outline of the cell was drawn
in.

(ii)

Post- it tags were added to the model to show the possible locations for
two different genes A and B such that at those loci the organism was
heterozygous and that the gametes which result from meiosis was of four
different genotypes. The genotype of the organism was written below the
model.

(iii)

Another model was constructed to show the same cell at metaphase of the
first meiotic division. The cell was drawn at late telophase using the same
colours as the pipe cleaners to illustrate the chromosomes and indicate the
position of the alleles.

(iv)

Models were constructed for one of the cells resulting from the first
meiotic division at metaphase II, anaphase II and telophase II. The other
cell was drawn at these stages in appropriate colours.

(v)

Scotch tape was used to ensure that the models were stuck securely to the
pages used and each stage of meiosis was labeled appropriately.

Briefly describe the cell cycle and explain what meiosis is.
Determine the number of possible genotypes that could arise if there were three different
alleles for one gene.
Explain how meiosis could lead to variation.
Give the advantages and disadvantages of meiosis.