MEIOSIS

GAMETES AND THE LIFE CYCLE OF A

- one of the most fundamental biological SEXUAL ORGANISM
event, conserved from unicellular
eukaryotes such as yeast to mammals Life Cycle
including human. - The entire sequence of stages in the life
of an organism, from the adults of one
In a sexually reproducing organism generation to the adults of the next
- the division of a SINGLE DIPLOID
nucleus into FOUR HAPLOID daughter Diploid
nuclei. - Containing two homologous sets of
chromosomes in each cell, one set
MEIOSIS AND CYTOKINESIS produce inherited from each parent; referring to
haploid gametes from diploid cells in the a 2n cell.
reproductive organs of the parents
Haploid
HOMOLOGOUS CHROMOSOMES - Containing a single set of chromosomes;
- Chromosome a threadlike, gene- referring to an n cell.
carrying structure found in the nucleus
of a eukaryotic cell and most visible Gamete
during mitosis and meiosis. - A sex cell; a haploid egg or sperm.

- It is also the main gene-carrying The union of two gametes of opposite sex
structure of prokaryotic cell. (fertilization) produces a ZYGOTE.

- Chromosome contains CHROMATIN

Somatic cell
- A typical body cell that has 46
chromosomes in humans

Karyotype
- A display of micrographs of the
metaphase chromosomes of a cell

- arranged by SIZE and CENTROMERE
POSITION.

Sex chromosome
- A chromosome that determines
whether an individual is male or female




THE PROCESS OF MEIOSIS METAPHASE
- Microtubules grow from the centrioles
MEIOSIS 1 and attach to the centromeres
PROPHASE 1
- most of the significant processes of - The tetrads line up along the cell
Meiosis occur during Prophase I equator

- The chromosomes condense and ANAPHASE 1
become visible - The centromeres break and
homologous chromosomes separate
- The centrioles form and move toward (note that the sister chromatids are still
the poles attached)

- The nuclear membrane begins to - Cytokinesis begins
dissolve
TELOPHASE 1
- The HOMOLOGS pair up, forming a - The chromosomes may decondense
tetrad. (depends on species)

- Each TETRAD is comprised of four - Cytokinesis reaches completion,
chromatids - the TWO HOMOLOGS, creating TWO HAPLOID daughter cells
each with their sister chromatid
MEIOSIS 2
- Homologous chromosomes will swap PROPHASE 2
genetic material in a process known as - Centrioles form and move toward the
CROSSING OVER (abbreviated as XO) poles
– Crossing over serves to
increase genetic diversity by - The nuclear membrane dissolves
creating four unique
chromatids METAPHASE 2
- Microtubules grow from the centrioles
CROSSING OVER and attach to the centromeres
- Genetic material from the homologous - The sister chromatids line up along the
chromosomes is randomly swapped cell equator
- This creates four unique chromatids
- Since each chromatid is unique, the ANAPHASE 2
overall genetic diversity of the gametes - The centromeres break and SISTER
is greatly increased CHROMATIDS separate
- Cytokinesis begins





TELOPHASE 2
- The chromosomes may decondense
(depends on species)

- Cytokinesis reaches completion,
creating FOUR HAPLOID daughter cells

COMPARISON BETWEEN MITOSIS AND
MEIOSIS

ERROR IN THE PROCESS OF MEIOSIS - The presence of this additional genetic
1. Down Syndrome material alters the normal course of
- A genetic disorder that is caused by the development, which results in the
presence of an extra chromosome, development of the characteristics that
which results in varying degrees of are normally associated with the
physical and mental abnormality syndrome

- Physical characteristics of the syndrome NONDISJUNCTION
include a: - the failure of chromosomes to separate
flattened face correctly during mitosis or meiosis
widely spaced and slanted eyes
comparatively smaller head size - When nondisjunction occurs in mitosis,
lax joints the individual cell may die, but the
organism as a whole is not affected.
- Although not present in all cases,
mental retardation is typical. - Nondisjunction DURING ANAPHASE I
OR II OF MEIOSIS causes a pair of
- Those who are affected with the chromosomes to remain together in one
syndrome display a wide variety in gamete, while the other gamete lacks a
mental, behavior and developmental chromosome. These abnormal gametes
capabilities, and will have a high can produce abnormal offspring
propensity to suffer from common
health problems, include a low SEX CHROMOSOME ANEUPLOIDIES
resistance to infection, pronounced 1. XO - Turner Syndrome
hearing loss, gastrointestinal problems, 2. XXY - Klinefelter Syndrome
and heart defects. 3. XYY genotype - taller than average;
after about age 35, extra Y often
- Down syndrome is usually caused by an degenerates and is not passed on to
error in cell division called NON- offspring.
DISJUNCTION. 4. XXX genotype - some developmental
deficiencies; some instances of mental
- There are also TWO OTHER TYPES OF retardation
CHROMOSOMAL ABNORMALITIES that
to a lesser extent are also implicated as
possible causes of Down syndrome.

- Regardless of the type of Down
syndrome which a person may have, all
people with Down syndrome have an
extra, critical portion of the NUMBER 21
CHROMOSOME present in all or some
of their cells.

STANDARD NOMENCLATURE FOR HUMAN KLINEFELTER SYNDROME
GENOTYPES - genetic disorder that occurs in MALES
- genotypes can be written with a who HAVE THREE OR MORE SEX
standard, shorthand format, as follows: CHROMOSOMES.
normal male - 46 XY
normal female - 46 XX - At least two of the chromosomes must
be X chromosomes, and one must be a Y
- ABERRATIONS from the normal pattern chromosome.
CAN BE DESIGNATED BY
changing the chromosome number - The condition causes males to have
and/or the sex chromosome some female-like characteristics
designation, as necessary.

TURNER’S SYNDROME
- a rare chromosomal disorder of
FEMALES (1:2500)

- characterized by short stature and the
lack of sexual development at puberty.

- In some cases of Turner's Syndrome,
however, ONE X CHROMOSOME IS
MISSING from the cells (45,X)

- research studies suggest that
approximately 40 percent of these
individuals may have some Y
chromosomal material in addition to the
one X chromosome.

- In other affected females, both X
chromosomes may be present, but one
may have genetic defects.

- In still other cases, some cells may have
the normal pair of X chromosomes while
other cells do not (45,X/46,XX
MOSAICISM).