MEIOSIS

—  In humans, each body cell contains two sets of

chromosomes, with 23 chromosomes in each set.
Each of the 23 pairs is called homologous pair. One
set comes from each parent cell.
—  A cell that contains two complete sets or
homologous pair of chromosomes is called a diploid
cell. The number of chromosomes in a diploid cell is
called diploid number, represent by 2N.
—  Each organism has a constant diploid number of
chromosomes in their body cells.
—  The human sex cells, which are the egg cell and the
sperm cell, contain only half the number of
chromosomes found in the body cells.
—  A cell containing a single set of chromosomes is
called a haploid cell. Human gametes have a
haploid number (N) of 23.
—  Thus, sexual reproduction, a haploid sperm cell
from the father fuses with a haploid egg cell from
the mother.
—  This process is called fertilization; it results in a
fertilized egg, called a zygote, which is diploid.
Mitosis ensures that all somatic cells receive exact
copies of all the zygote’s 46 chromosomes.

—  Gametes, however, cannot undergo mitosis since

this would double their number of chromosomes
after each cycle of cell division. Haploid gametes are
produced by a serial types of cell division called
meiosis which occurs only in the reproductive
organs.
Meiosis is similar in mitosis in some ways. Both occur
in eukaryotic cells and involve similar phases of cell
division. But the two processes differ in the following
ways:

—  Meiosis results in daughter cells having the number

of chromosomes (haploid number) of the parent cell.

—  The resulting daughter cells in meiosis are not alike.

They do not have the same exact copies of
chromosomes.
—  In mitosis, a parent cell produces two daughter cells
while in meiosis, a parent cell divides twice,
producing four daughter cells.
—  Mitosis occurs in all body cells while meiosis occurs
only in reproductive cells of ovaries and testes.

Like mitosis, meiosis is continuous process. It involves

two successive nuclear divisions, designated as
Meiosis I and Meiosis II. Each nuclear division has
these stages: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and
Telophase.
Phases of Meiosis

MEIOSIS I
—  As the start of meiosis I each chromosomes consists
of two strands of sister chromatids connected at the
centromere. Homologous pairs of chromosomes
come together before meiosis begins, an event that
does not occur during mitosis.
Phases of Meiosis

PROPHASE I
—  At the beginning of prophase I, chromosomes
become thick and visible. The chromosomes of each
homologous pair are tangled together. Each pair
consists of a total of four chromatids, because each
chromosome in the pair had replicated before
meiosis began. By the end of prophase I, the nucleoli
and the nuclear envelope have disappeared and the
spindle fibers have formed.
Phases of Meiosis

METAPHASE I
—  During metaphase I, the homologous chromosomes
are still together. The pairs of chromosomes are
arranged in the middle of the cell.
Phases of Meiosis

ANAPHASE I
—  The homologous pair of chromosomes separate
from each other during anaphase I. Spindle fibers
pull member from each pair of chromosomes to
opposite ends of the cell. Notice that each individual
chromosomes still consist of two sister chromatids.
Phases of Meiosis

TELOPHASE I
—  Depending on the type of organism, a new nuclear
envelope may or may not form during telophase. In
either case, cytokinesis takes place during telophase.
After cytokinesis, each new cell is haploid,
containing one chromosome from each pair.
MEIOSIS II

—  Recall that, before meiosis began, each chromosome

replicated to become two sister chromatids. However,
chromosomes do not replicate before beginning the
second division of meiosis. The sister chromatids
remained attached during the first meiotic division.
—  Each of the daughter cells produced during meiosis I
divides again during meiosis II. The sister chromatids of
each chromosomes separate and are divided between
two new cells. In animal cells, mitosis divides the
chromosomes in a diploid cell. Meiosis II, on the other
hand, divides the chromosomes in a haploid cell. In
either case, the new cells contain the same number of
chromosomes as the original cell.
Phases of Meiosis II

PROPHASE II
—  Meiosis I results in two haploid (N) daughter cells,
each with half the number of chromosomes as the
original.
Phases of Meiosis II

METAPHASE II
—  The chromosomes line up in a similar way to the
metaphase stage of mitosis.
Phases of Meiosis II

ANAPHASE II
—  The sister chromatids separate and move toward
opposite ends of the cell.
Phases of Meiosis II

TELOPHASE II
—  Meiosis II results in four haploid (N) daughter cells.
Crossing Over

—  The chromosomes of all organisms contain regions called

genes. Each gene codes for one trait, or characteristic, of
the organisms. For example, on human chromosome
may contain genes for height, hair texture, a digestive
enzyme, and many other traits.
—  One very important event that can occur during meiosis
is crossing over. Crossing over is the exchange of genes
between pairs of homologous chromosomes. Crossing
over only occurs during prophase I of meiosis, when the
homologous pairs are still joined together. Homologous
chromosomes can sometimes break where they meet and
exchanged genes. After crossing over has occurred, each
chromosome in the homologous pair has a different
combination of genes than it had before meiosis began.
 Comparing Mitosis and Meiosis

Mitosis Meiosis

Where it occurs Body cells Gonads (Reproductive

Organs)
Why it occurs Cell repair, growth, Sexual Reproduction
asexual division
Number of cells produced 2 4

Number of divisions 1 2

Number of chromosomes Same as parent (diploid) Half that of parent

in daughter cells (Haploid)
Amount of variation in None Lots
daughter cells
 MITOSIS MEIOSIS

•  Can be seen both in haploid (n) and •  Can be seen both in diploid (2n) cells
diploid (2n) cells

•  Provide reproduction in single-celled •  Produces gametes (sex

organisms cells=reproductive cells) in sexually
•  Provide growth and repair in reproducing organisms
multicellular organisms

•  Two daughter cells are formed after •  Four daughter cells are formed after
division division
 •  The genetic characters of parental •  The genetic characters of parental
cell and daughter cells are identical cell and daughter cells are different,
therefore leads to genetic variations

•  Chromosome number of the parental •  Reduce chromosomes number to

cell and daughter cells are identical haploid = monoploid

•  No crossing-over •  Crossing-over takes place.

Homologous pairs synapse and
genetic material is exchanged
between them
Gametogenesis

—  Gametogenesis is the process by which gametes or

reproductive cells are formed by meiotic division.
There are two types of gametogenesis:
Spermatogenesis or sperm cell formation, and
Oogenesis or ovum/egg cell formation.