Intro

Meiosis is a reduction division of diploid cells to produce haploid sex gametes. The meiosis process is
called a reduction division because it halves the number of chromosomes in cells, for example, from
diploid (2n)  haploid (n). The overall main scheme of meiosis involves,

(a) A single duplication of chromosomes in the parent cell

(b) Two cycles of nuclear divisions and cell division:
(i) Meiosis I
(ii) Meiosis II
(c) The final production of four haploid gametes

But today we are going to talk more about the comparison of meiosis I and meiosis II.

1st paragraph

Lets first talk about the similarities between Meiosis I and Meiosis II.

(i) Each division consists of four phases which are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and
telophase.
(ii) Both involves nuclear division
(iii) Both involves cytokinesis
(iv) Both have chromatids
(v) And their spindle fibres “guide” the movement of chromosomes to opposite poles.

Lets now talk about the differences between meiosis I and meiosis II

In the aspect of Division:

Meiosis I

(i) Reduces 2n chromosomes to n

Meiosis II

(i) Divides the remaining chromosomes in a mitosis-like process.

In the aspect of Prophase:

Meiosis I

(i) Chromosomes already replicated (Chromosomes condense and split into two
(chromatids)
(ii) Homologous chromosomes synapse (pairing of homologous chromosomes)
(iii) Chiasma (points where the exchange of chromatid materials) forms and crossing over of
the chiasma takes place

Meiosis II

(i) No replication
(ii) No synapsis (the chromosomes do not pair)
(iii) No chiasma (points where the exchange of chromatid material) and no crossing over
In the aspect of Metaphase:

Meiosis I

(i) The homologous chromosomes that are paired will align at the equator.

Meiosis II

(i) Sister chromatids align at the equator (no paired)

In the aspect of Anaphase:

Meiosis I

(i) The homologous chromosomes are separated to opposite poles

Meiosis II

(i) The sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles.

In the aspect of Telophase:

Meiosis I

(i) One cytokinesis (separation of the parent cell’s cytoplasm at the end of a mitosis) takes
place to produce two haploid (n=2) daughter cells. This is because only one animal cell at
start.

Meiosis II

(i) Two cytokinesis takes place to produce four haploid (n=2) daughter cells. This is because
got two animal cell from the process from telophase I