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Lecture 4

Meiosis
&
Alternation of Generations

EUKARYOTIC CELLS

Pair of each chromosome type

called aHomologous Pair

Haploid
1

set of chromosomes / cell

Diploid
2

sets of chromosomes (/1cell

set
from each parent!
)

HAPLOID & DIPLOID CELLS KINGDOM ANIMALIA

Haploid
(egg
Gametes
gametes
& sperm
) are
(n = 23)
Haploid
(1n =
one set of
chromosomes).

Humans are
predominantly
Diploid
organisms2n(
= two sets of
chromosomes
)
Copyright 2004 Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Benjamin Cummings

Multicellular
Diploidadults
(2n = 46)
Diploid
zygote
(2n = 46)
Figure 8.14

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HAPLOID & DIPLOID CELLS KINGDOM PLANTAE

Haploid
(n)
Diploid
(2n)

Alternation of Generations

ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS
IN PLANTS
Alternating Diploid & Haploid life phases

Meiosis
facilitates
transition from
Diploid
(2n) to Haploid (n)

ALTERNATION OF GENERATIONS IN
PLANTS

gametes

WORDS OF WISDOM:
Sporophytes produce Spores!
Gametophytes produce Gametes!

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Results of Meiosis
In Sporophytes, certain Diploid (2n) cells (Germ
Cells = Sporocytes) undergo Meiosis:

4 cells (Spores) result from each Germ Cell via 2 successive

sets of divisions
The 4 Spores :

Are Haploid (n) (have half the chromosome number of the

starting Germ Cell)
Almost always have different DNA combinations than each other!

Comparison of Mitosis & Meiosis

Mitotic Cell Division (Mitosis followed by Cytokinesis)

Plant Growth & Asexual Reproduction

1 cell gives rise to 2 cells
New cells are genetic clones of parent cell & each other
Mitosis

Line Up End-to-End

Meiosis Crossing Over

Line Up Side-by-Side

Meiotic Cell Division (Meiosis followed by Cytokinesis)

In Plants, allows for a switch from Sporophyte (2n) to

Gametophyte (n)
1 Diploid cell gives rise to 4 Haploid cells (Spores)

Meiosis
Prophase I - Crossing-over

Chiasmata form.
Results in exchange /
recombination of DNA between homologous
chromosomes

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Chromosomes align in pairs;

chiasmata visible

Meiosis
Metaphase I

Chromosomes align in pairs at equator.

Spindle formation completed.

Phases of Meiosis - Overview

During Interphase (before
Meiosis)

DNA is duplicated (just like in Mitosis)

Meiosis:

Meiosis I 1 Diploid Germ Cell divides to form 2 new

cells
Each new cell is Haploid
Each chromosome still consists of 2 Sister Chromatids.
Meiosis II each of 2 Haploid cells from Meiosis I

divides to form 2 cells

Sister

Chromatids separate during division to become

chromosomes.

Summary of Meiosis I
In a Diploid cell, homologous
chromosomes pair up side-byside

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Homologous
chromosomes
separate which reduces the
number of chromosomes by
half

The 2 new cells are Haploid, but

each chromosome still consists of
2 Sister Chromatids

12

Summary of Meiosis II
Separation
of
Sister
Chromatids into separate
cells; 4 Haploid cells exist
at the end of Meiosis II

13

Alternation of Generations in
Plants
Definition
:
In plants, there is a continuous alternation
of a multicellular
Diploid(2n) form with a
multicellular
Haploid(n) form.

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Alternation of Generations in Plants

Potential Advantages (Evolutionary Significance)

Maintain or Increase Population Fitness Due to:

weeding out of harmful mutations
allowing for genetic diversity

Alternation of Generations in Plants

Non-

Vascular Land Plants (Bryophytes)

Alternation of Generations in Plants

Non-

Seed Vascular Land Plants

Pteridophytes
(
)

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Alternation of Generations in Plants

Seed Plants (Gymnosperms & Angiosperms)