Chapter 11 Sexual Reproduction and Meiosis

Bonus topics: synaptonemal complex meiosis-specific cohesin protector

Terms (this list is not inclusive!)

gametes zygote somatic cells germ-line cells diploid (2n) haploid (1n) aneuploid nondisjunction homologues sister chromatids tetrad (bivalent) synapsis chiasmata kinetochore crossing over independent assortment

Meiosis two successive cell divisions with no replication of genetic material between them results in a reduction of the chromosome number from diploid to haploid
Fig. 11.3

Meiosis I

Meiosis II

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Crossing over: genetic recombination between non-sister chromatids = physical exchange of regions of non-sister chromatids chiasmata: sites of crossing over enzyme-mediated in recombination modules occurs in prophase I homologues are separated from each other in anaphase I

Fig. 11.4

Metaphase I: terminal chiasmata hold homologues together microtubules from opposite poles attach to each homologue, not each sister chromatid

Fig. 11.5

Metaphase I: homologues are aligned at the metaphase plate side-by-side the orientation of each pair of homologues on the spindle is random # of possible chromosome orientations = 2 raised to the power of the # of chromosome pairs
Fig. 11.6 8

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Meiosis produces 4 haploid cells that are not identical to each other genetic differences in these cells arise from:
crossing over random alignment of homologues in metaphase I (independent assortment)

Mitosis produces 2 cells identical to each other