G E N E T I C S-I

CELL DIVISION
AND REPRODUCTION
Module 2.2
MEIOSIS
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LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Describe in detail and illustrate the process of meiosis,
commenting on the significance of this type of cell division.

• Distinguish between random chromosome assortment & crossing

over as the basis of recombination.

• Explain how variation is generated and clearly distinguish between

the processes of recombination & mutation.

• Distinguish between mitosis and meiosis.

 G E N E T I C S-I
SEXUAL REPRODUCTION & MEIOSIS
• Mitosis and meiosis are forms of cellular reproduction.

• Both involve chromosomal division followed by cytokinesis.

• They are however, two very distinct processes each having

different outcomes.

• Cellular reproduction via mitosis results in genetically identical

progeny or clones.

• Meiosis contributes to genetic variability and results in the

production of gametes with half the number of chromosomes in
the parent.
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MEIOSIS
• Unlike mitosis which has only one nuclear division, the process of
meiosis involves TWO nuclear divisions.

• As such, meiosis can be separated into TWO stages:

Meiosis-I
Meiosis II

• Meiosis-I is often referred to as reduction division since by the

end of this stage the number of chromosomes per cell is halved.
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MEIOSIS-I
There are five (5) major events in meiosis-I which follow the
interphase stage:

• Prophase-I

• Metaphase-I

• Anaphase-I

• Telophase-I

• Cytokinesis
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PROPHASE-I OF MEIOSIS-I
Prophase-I of meiosis tends to be a rather long stage and can be
divided into five (5) sub-stages:

1. Leptotene or Leptonema (thin threads):

• Chromosomes become visible as they contract.

• Sister chromatids remain indistinguishable from each other.

2. Zygotene or Zygonema (paired threads):

• Chromosomes condense further and homologous chromosomes

begin to pair up (synapse) to form bivalents or tetrads (has 4
chromatids).
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PROPHASE-I of MEIOSIS-I
3. Pachytene or Pachynema (thick threads):
• Chromosomes become shorter and thicker.
• Synaptonemal complex forms between homologous chromosomes.
• Crossing over takes place between non-sister chromatids of
homologous chromosomes.

4. Diplotene or Diplonema (two threads):

• The synaptonemal complex degrades and homologous
chromosomes move apart from each other slightly but remain
attached at chiasmata.

5. Diakinesis (moving through):

• Chromosomes condense further; chiasmata become clearly visible.
• The nuclear membrane has broken down and the spindle forms.
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MEIOSIS-I continues……
Metaphase I:
• Pairs of homologous chromosomes align on the metaphase plate.
• Microtubule contacts each member of a homologous pair.

Anaphase I:
• Homologous chromosomes separate from each other moving to
opposite poles .
• Sister chromatids (dyads) remain attached.

Telophase I:
• Chromosomes arrive at spindle poles and cytokinesis occurs.
• Chromosome number becomes halved at this stage.
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MEIOSIS-II
• Upon completion of meiosis-I, the process of meiosis-II
follows.

• The period between meiosis-I and meiosis-II is known as

interkinesis.

• During interkinesis, the nuclear membrane reforms around

the chromosomes at opposite poles.

• Meiosis-II is often referred to as equatorial division whereby

sister chromatids are separated from each other.
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MEIOSIS-II
Mitosis-II is similar to mitosis and consists of five major events:
Prophase-II & cytokinesis

Metaphase-II

Anaphase-II

Telophase-II

Cytokinesis
monad

2X = 4
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MEIOSIS-II continues……
Prophase-II:
• Chromosomes re-condense, the spindle forms and the nuclear
membrane disintegrates once more.

NOTE: Some cells lack a prophase-II stage and move directly to

metaphase-II following cytokinesis at the end of meiosis-I.

Metaphase-II:
• Individual chromosomes align along the equatorial plate.

Anaphase-II:
• Sister chromatids separate and begin migrating to opposite poles.
• Each separated chromatid is referred to as a chromosome (monad).
 G E N E T I C S-I
MEIOSIS-II continues……

Telophase-II:

• The monads arrive at the spindle poles and a nuclear membrane

re-forms around them.
• Cytokinesis gives rise to haploid cells.
• Monads relax and are no longer visible.

Note: At the end of meiosis-II, four haploid gametes have been

created, each with its unique set of genes.
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GENETIC VARIATION

1. Mutations (occur spontaneously)- both mitosis and meiosis

 Creates novel alleles (point mutations).

 Polyploids (chromosomal aberrations).

2. Recombination (occurs only in meiosis)

 Shuffles existing alleles to create novel allelic

combinations.
 G E N E T I C S-I
Genetic recombination and variation (2 mechanisms):
Crossing Over (prophase-1 : pachytene)

 Non-sister chromatids of homologous pairs of chromosomes can cross over and

exchange segments
 Recombinant chromosomes are formed having a mixture of paternal and maternal
genetic material

Random Chromosome Assortment (metaphase-1)

 Maternal and paternal chromosome members of a homologous pair align randomly at

the equator during cell division (223 combinations in humans ≈ 8 million combinations)
 There can be several possible arrangements giving rise to gametes that vary in terms of
the numbers of maternally and paternally derived chromosomes

NOTE: Both of these processes occur during MEIOSIS (223 x crossing over = countless
possibilities).
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MEIOSIS: CROSSING OVER = GENETIC VARIABILITY
n

n
2n

n
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MEIOSIS: CROSSING OVER = GENETIC VARIABILITY
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MEIOSIS: SUMMARY
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MITOSIS VS. MEIOSIS (SUMMARY)
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SUMMARY
• Meiosis = sexual reproduction in eukaryotes.

• Meiosis results in the formation of 4 haploid gametes, each being

unique.

• Meiosis leads to genetic variability.