Meiosis

Cell Biology
Lecture # 12
 Objectives
By the end of this lecture you should be
familiar with:

Different stages of Meiosis

Gametogenesis
Differences and similarities between
Meiosis and Mitosis
 Meiosis
Meiosis Is a Special Type of Cell Division That
Occurs in Sexually Reproducing Organisms

Meiosis reduces the chromosome number by

half, enabling sexual recombination to occur:

Meiosis of diploid cells produces haploid

daughter cells, which may function as
gametes.
Gametes undergo fertilization, restoring the
diploid number of chromosomes in the zygote
 Most cells in the human body are
produced by mitosis. These are the
somatic (or vegetative) line cells.

Cells that become gametes are referred to

as germ line cells.

The vast majority of cell divisions in the

human body are mitotic, with meiosis
being restricted to the gonads.
 Stages of Meiosis
The stages of meiosis can be broken down into
two main stages, Meiosis I and Meiosis II:

Meiosis I can be broken down into four sub

stages: Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I
and Telophase I

Meiosis II can be broken down into four sub

stages: Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II
and Telophase II
 Meiosis I
Prophase I : most of the
significant processes of Meiosis
occur during Prophase I

The chromosomes condense and

become visible
The centrioles form and move
toward the poles
The nuclear membrane begins to
dissolve

The homologs pair up, in a process

known as synapsis to form a
tetrad
Each tetrad is comprised of four
chromatids - the two homologs, each
with their sister chromatid
 Crossing over
Genetic material from the
homologous
chromosomes is
randomly swapped

This creates four unique

chromatids, which
increases the overall
genetic diversity of the
gametes
Chiasma: The site where the exchange of
chromosome segments between homologous
chromosomes takes place (pl= chiasmata).
 Metaphase I
Microtubules grow from
the centrioles and attach
to one side of the
centromeres

The tetrads line up

along the cell equator

Each homologous pair

can orient in either of
two ways at the plane of
cell division
 Anaphase I
The centromeres break
and homologous
chromosomes separate

Note that the sister

chromatids are still
attached

Cytokinesis begins
 Telophase I
The chromosomes
may decondense
(depends on
species)

Cytokinesis reaches
completion, creating
two haploid
daughter cells
 Meiosis II
Prophase II

Centrioles form and

move toward the
poles

The nuclear
membrane dissolves
 Metaphase II
Microtubules grow
from the centrioles and
attach to the
centromeres

The sister
chromatids line up
along the cell equator
 Anaphase II
The centromeres
break and sister
chromatids
separate

Cytokinesis begins
 Telophase II
The chromosomes
may decondense
(depends on
species)

Cytokinesis reaches
completion, creating
four haploid
daughter cells
 Gametogenesis
Gametogenesis is the process of forming
gametes (by definition haploid, n) from diploid
cells of the germ line.

Spermatogenesis is the process of forming

sperm cells by meiosis (in animals) in
specialized organs known as gonads (in males
these are termed testes).

After division the cells undergo differentiation

to become sperm cells.
 Gametogenesis
Oogenesis is the process of forming an ovum
(egg) by meiosis (in animals) in specialized
gonads known as ovaries.

Whereas in spermatogenesis all 4 meiotic

products develop into gametes, oogenesis places
most of the cytoplasm into the large egg. The
other cells, the polar bodies, do not develop. This
all the cytoplasm and organelles go into the egg.

Human males produce 200,000,000 sperm per

day, while the female produces one egg (usually)
each menstrual cycle.
 Meiosis and Genetic Variation
Meiosis and fertilization introduce genetic
variation in three ways:

1-Crossing over between homologous

chromosomes at prophase I.

2-Independent assortment of homologous

pairs at metaphase I:
Each homologous pair can orient in either of two
ways at the plane of cell division.
The total number of possible outcomes = 2n (n =
number of haploid chromosomes).

3- Random chance fertilization between any

one female gamete with any other male gamete.
 Comparison Between Mitosis and
Meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
Occurs in somatic cells. Occurs in reproductive
cells.
Consists of only one Consists of two nuclear
nuclear division. divisions M-I and M-II.
Dividing cells can be Dividing cells are diploid
haploid or diploid.
 Mitosis Meiosis
Involves division of Involves separation of
chromosomes. homologous
chromosomes in M-I and
division of chromosomes
in M-II.
Does not involve either Pairing of homologous
pairing of homologous chromosomes and
chromosomes or crossing crossing over occur
over. during Prophase-I.
Two daughter cells are Four daughter cells are
formed. formed.
 Mitosis Meiosis
Number of Diploid number of
chromosomes present in chromosomes is
the mother cell is reduced to haploid in
maintained in both the each daughter cell.
daughter cells. Therefore it is a
Therefore it is an reduction division
equational division.
Original characters of Chromosomal
the chromosomes are characters are altered
maintained in the due to "crossing over"
daughter cells. causing recombination
of genes
 Mitosis Meiosis
Daughter cells are Daughter cells differ
similar to each other and from each other as well
also to the original as from the original
mother cell. mother cell.

Helps in growth and Helps in the sexual

body repairs. reproduction and
regulation of
chromosome number in
the life cycle of sexually
reproducing organism