MITOSIS MEIOSIS

PROPHASE PROPHASE I

No synapsis of Synapsis of
homologous homologous
chromosomes chromosomes
to form tetrads

ANAPHASE ANAPHASE I

Sister chromatids Homologous

move to opposite chromosomes
poles move to
opposite poles

DAUGHTER PROPHASE II
CELLS
Two n cells
Two 2n cells with with duplicated
unduplicated chromosomes
chromosomes

ANAPHASE II

Sister
chromatids
move to
opposite
poles

Figure 10-16 Animated Mitosis and meiosis

This drawing compares the events and outcomes of mitosis and meio-
sis, in each case beginning with a diploid cell with four chromosomes HAPLOID
(two pairs of homologous chromosomes). Because the chromosomes CELLS
duplicated in the previous interphase, each chromosome consists of
two sister chromatids. The chromosomes derived from one parent are Four n cells
shown in blue, and those from the other parent are red. Homologous with unduplicated
chromosomes
pairs are similar in size and shape. Chiasmata are not shown, and some
of the stages have been omitted for simplicity.

haploid cells produced are the gametes. Gametes develop when
germ line cells, which give rise to the next generation, undergo
meiosis.
The formation of gametes is known as gametogenesis. Male
gametogenesis, termed spermatogenesis, forms four haploid
sperm cells for each cell that enters meiosis. (See Chapter 49 and
Fig. 49-5 for a detailed description of spermatogenesis.)
In contrast, female gametogenesis, termed oogenesis, forms
a single egg cell, or ovum, for every cell that enters meiosis. In this
process, most of the cytoplasm goes to only one of the two cells
produced during each meiotic division. At the end of the first
meiotic division, one nucleus is retained and the other, called
the first polar body, often degenerates. Similarly, at the end of the
second division, one nucleus becomes another polar body and
the other nucleus survives. In this way, one haploid nucleus re-
ceives most of the accumulated cytoplasm and nutrients from the
original meiotic cell. (See Chapter 49 and Fig. 49-11 for a detailed
description of oogenesis.)
Although meiosis occurs at some point in a sexual life cycle,
it does not always immediately precede gamete formation. Many
simple eukaryotes, including some fungi and algae, remain hap-
loid (their cells dividing mitotically) throughout most of their
life cycles, with individuals being unicellular or multicellular.
Two haploid gametes (produced by mitosis) fuse to form a dip-
loid zygote that undergoes meiosis to restore the haploid state
(❚ Fig. 10-17b). Examples of these types of life cycles are found in
Figures 25-17 and 26-9.
Plants and some algae and fungi have some of the most com-
plicated life cycles (❚ Fig. 10-17c). These life cycles, character-
ized by an alternation of generations, consist of a multicellular
diploid stage, the sporophyte generation, and a multicellular
haploid stage, the gametophyte generation. Diploid sporophyte

Chromosomes, Mitosis, and Meiosis 229