Francisco, Frances Lorraine R.

General Zoology
17-2-00897 Mrs. Ellen Mercado

Stages of Prophase 1

Leptotene

Condensation: threads of DNA wrapped in nuclear proteins and histones gradually become visible. These threads often have
"bead-like" swellings along their length, but their significance is unknown. Close examination of these threads, which continue
to shorten and thicken, shows that they are already doubled. Each half was once called a chromatid, and is now known to be
one partner of the doubled DNA molecules of each chromosome made back in S-phase.

Zygotene

At some point in the thickening process it is possible to make out that each thread represents a double-DNA chromosome.
During the second stage, these chromosomes start to pair up with their complementary partner (the other chromosome that
is carrying the same set of genes). Such chromosome pairs are said to be homologous and the pair is said to be a pair
of homologous chromosomes. As this process of pairing continues (also called synapsis), the homologous chromosomes
come into a tighter and tighter arrangement. It is difficult to see what the paired chromosomes are doing if a light microscope
is the only instrument used, but if these complexes are viewed using an electron microscope, the close association between
them can be seen. There appears to be a thin space between the two chromosomes which contains a multiply-threaded
structure called a synaptonemal complex. This complex extends the length of the chromosome pair and is attached to the
nuclear envelope.
 Pachytene

This is one of the longest stages of Prophase I, and it is during this stage that biological information is exchanged between
chromosome pairs.Homologous chromosomes are in very close contact and the physical association between the DNA
molecules of the pairs of chromosomes (4 DNA molecules in all) is very strong at certain points.It is believed that the act
of crossing over, or the physical exchange of parts of the chromosomes, takes place at these points of close contact
during this third stage of Prophase I.

Diplotene

The dissolving and break down of the synaptonemal complex, and the separation of the individual components of the two sets
of chromosomes marks the beginning of the fourth stage, the coiling stage. The homologous chromosomes move apart in
such a way as to suggest that they might even be repelling one another. But they do not separate entirely. At scattered points
along the structure the points of crossing over still remain, and these act as "spot welds" or chiasmata, which hold all four
parts of the DNA and chromosomes together. Human female egg cells reach this stage in the unborn fetus, about 4 months
before delivery. Then the process is frozen in time, and nothing more happens, often for 30 years, until the monthly ovulation
when one egg cell breaks free of the ovary and completes the meiotic sequence.

Diakinesis

More and more packing of DNA with histones and proteins makes the chromosomes even shorter and more densely packed.
This is the recondensation, or final stage of Prophase I. All of the chromosomes are now at their maximum density and degree
of packing, and the chiasmata move along the length of each structure until they reach the ends of the chromosomes, a
process called terminalization. In its most extreme form the four parts of a recondensed chromosome set may only be held
together by a few remaining chiasmata at each end. It is during this last stage of Prophase I that the nucleoli vanishes and
the nuclear membrane breaks down so that the cell can enter the next stages of meiosis I.