MEIOSIS

➢ occurs during the formation of sex cells in the reproductive organs.

➢ type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four haploid
cells.
➢ the production of gametes—sex cells, or sperm and eggs.
➢ cell division occurs twice during meiosis, one starting cell can produce four gametes (eggs
or sperm). In each round of division, cells go through four stages: prophase, metaphase,
anaphase, and telophase.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 GERM CELL
• any biological cell that gives rise to the gametes of an organism that reproduces
sexually.
• they undergo meiosis, followed by cellular differentiation into mature gametes,
either eggs or sperm.

SPERMATOGENESIS

• the process of forming sperm cells by meiosis in specialized organs known as

GONADS (in males these are termed testes). After division the cells undergo
differentiation to become sperm cells.
• Spermatogonium (plural: spermatogonia)
o undifferentiated male germ cell.
o undergo spermatogenesis to form mature spermatozoa in the seminiferous
tubules of the testis.

OOGENESIS
• the process of
forming an ovum
(egg) by meiosis in
specialized gonads
known as ovaries.

• Oogonium (plural:
oogonia)
o primordial
germ cells
o develop into
primary
oocytes

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 FERTILIZATION

o usually involving a sperm nucleus getting into the egg cell, leads to fusion of nuclei,
producing a zygote: the 2N first cell of the offspring.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

MEIOSIS I

INTERPHASE I
o the DNA in the cell is copied resulting in two identical full sets of chromosomes.
o outside of the nucleus are two centrosomes, each containing a pair of centrioles,
these structures are critical for the process of cell division.
o during interphase, microtubules extend from these centrosomes.

PROPHASE I
o the copied
chromosomes
condense into X-
shaped structures that
can be easily seen
under a microscope.
o each chromosome is
composed of two
sister chromatids
containing identical
genetic information.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 o the chromosomes pair up so that both copies of chromosome 1 are together, both
copies of chromosome 2 are together, and so on.
• Synapsis is the pairing of two homologous chromosomes that occurs
during meiosis.
o when homologous chromosomes synapse, they come closer together until they are
connected by a protein complex called the synaptonemal complex, which contains
central and lateral elements.
o the pairs of chromosomes may then exchange bits of DNA in a process called
recombination or crossing over.

o at the end of Prophase I the membrane around the nucleus in the cell dissolves
away, releasing the chromosomes.
o the meiotic spindle, consisting of microtubules and other proteins, extends across
the cell between the centrioles.

METAPHASE I
o the chromosome pairs line up next to each other along the centre (equator) of the
cell.
o the centrioles are now at opposites poles of the cell with the meiotic spindles
extending from them.
o the meiotic spindle fibres attach to one chromosome of each pair.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 ANAPHASE I
o the pair of chromosomes are then pulled apart by the meiotic spindle, which pulls
one chromosome to one pole of the cell and the other chromosome to the opposite
pole.
o in meiosis I the sister chromatids stay together. This is different to what happens in
mitosis and meiosis II.

TELOPHASE I
o the chromosomes complete their move to the opposite poles of the cell.
o at each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather together.
o a membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to create two new nuclei.
o the single cell then pinches in the middle to form two separate daughter cells each
containing a full set of chromosomes within a nucleus. This process is known as
cytokinesis.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

MEIOSIS II

PROPHASE II
o now there are two daughter cells, each with 23 chromosomes (23 pairs of
chromatids).
o in each of the two daughter cells the chromosomes condense again into visible X-
shaped structures that can be easily seen under a microscope.
o the membrane around the nucleus in each daughter cell dissolves away releasing
the chromosomes.
o the centrioles duplicate.
o the meiotic spindle forms again.

METAPHASE II
o in each of the two daughter cells the chromosomes (pair of sister chromatids) line
up end-to-end along the equator of the cell.
o the centrioles are now at opposites poles in each of the daughter cells.
o meiotic spindle fibres at each pole of the cell attach to each of the sister chromatids.

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

 ANAPHASE II
o the sister chromatids are then pulled to opposite poles due to the action of the
meiotic spindle.
o the separated chromatids are now individual chromosomes.

TELOPHASE II
o the chromosomes complete their move to the opposite poles of the cell.
o at each pole of the cell a full set of chromosomes gather together.
o a membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to create two new cell nuclei.
o this is the last phase of meiosis, however cell division is not complete without
another round of cytokinesis.
o once cytokinesis is complete there are four granddaughter cells, each with half a set
of chromosomes (haploid):
o in males, these four cells are all sperm cells
o in females, one of the cells is an egg cell while the other three are polar bodies
(small cells that do not develop into eggs).

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU

GENERAL BIOLOGY 1: MEIOSIS PREPARED BY: KENNETH G. LUGTU