MEIOSIS

GAMETOGENESIS

SPECIALITY: 222 «GENERAL MEDICINE» (MASTER DEGREE)

 QUESTIONS

1. Meiosis. Its stages

2. Biological significance of meiosis.

The differences between meiosis and mitosis

3. Human gametogenesis
 MEIOSIS – TYPE OF CELL DIVISION

 provides the chromosome number reduction

 produces 4 haploid daughter cells that come from

diploid parent cell

 is a cytological basis of the animals gametes and

plant spores formation

It was discovered by W. Flemming (1882) in

animals and E. Strasburger (1888) in plants
 MEIOSIS MEIOSIS I (REDUCTION DIVISION)
Prophase I (2n4c)
• Leptotene
consist of two cell’s • Zygotene
divisions that occur one • Pachytene
by one
• Diplotene
• Diakinesis
DNA replication for Metaphase I (2n4c)
those divisions takes Anaphase I (2n4c)
place once Telophase I (1n2c)
INTERKINESIS (1n2c)
MEIOSIS II (EQUATION DIVISION)
Prophase II (1n2c)
DNA doesn’t replicate Metaphase II (1n2c)
between two meiotic
Anaphase II (2n2c)
divisions (during
Interkinesis ) Telophase II (1n1c)
 UNIQUE FEATURES OF MEIOSIS

 Synapsis – conjugation of homologous chromosomes:

homologous chromosomes pair all along their length

 Homologous recombination – crossing-over: swapping of a

genetic material between non-sister chromatids of paired
homologous chromosomes

 Reduction division – chromosomes don’t replicate between

two nuclear division, each daughter cell contains a half the
original chromosomal set of a parent cell at the end of
meiosis
 MEIOSIS I (REDUCTION DIVISION)

PROPHASE I (2n4c)
EVENTS – chromatin condensation, nuclear membrane disintegration, the
synapsis of homologous chromosomes, genetic material recombination (crossing
over) between homologous chromosomes

SUBPHASES OF PROPHASE I
 SUBPHASE OF EVENTS
THE PROPHASE I
LEPTOTENE chromatin condensation begin, chromosomes condense tightly

ZYGOTENE the synapsis (conjugation, pairing/coming together) of

homologous chromosomes takes place, the synaptonemal
complex is formed
PACHYTENE bivalents (tetrads of the chromatids ) and chiasmata (points of
contact, the physical link, between two (non-sister) chromatids of
homologous chromosomes) are formed, crossing-over occurs
RESULT of crossing-over – genetic material recombination;
redistribution of allelic genes between homologous
chromosomes
DIPLOTENE chromatin condensation continue,
the synaptonemal complex degrades,
chiasmata are visible at the regions where crossing-over
occurred
DIKTIOTENA – modified dyplotene characteristic of primary
oocytes (arrest of Meiosis I, resting phase that lasts for years)
DIAKINESIS the nucleoli disappear, the nuclear membrane disintegrates into
vesicles, and the meiotic spindle begins to form, the chiasmata
move to the end of the chromosome arm as the homologous
METAPHASE I (2n4c)

EVENTS – the metaphase

plate is formed

tetrads align at the metaphase

plate
chiasmata hold homologous
chromosomes together,
kinetochores of sister
chromatids fuse
microtubules can attach to only
one side of each centromere
 ANAPHASE I (2n4c)

EVENTS – homologous
chromosomes separation;
reduction of the chromosome
number

 pairs of chromosomes split up and move toward the opposite poles

 sister chromatids remain attached at their centromeres and move as a
single unit toward the same pole
 the orientation of homologous chromosomes of each pair is random:
either the maternal or the paternal homologue may orient toward a given
pole
 TELOPHASE I
(n2c)×2

EVENTS – two haploid cells

formed; chromosomes are
two-chromatides

 each pole has a complete haploid set of two-chromatids

chromosomes; and may receive either the maternal or the
paternal homologue from each chromosome pair
 each chromosome consists of two sister chromatids, but they
are no longer identical due to crossing over
 nuclear membrane re-forms around the daughter nucleus
 cytokinesis (cytoplasm division) may or may not occur after
telophase I
 GENETIC RECOMBINATION MECHANISMS
IN MEIOSIS I

Separation of the homologous chromosomes

Crossing over takes place (formation of random combinations of maternal and
in Prophase I paternal chromosomes) takes place
in Anaphase І
 MEIOSIS II (EQUATION DIVISION)

• Prophase II (n2c). Each nuclear envelope breaking down as a new spindle

forms
• Metaphase II (n2c). The chromosomes are positioned on the metaphase
plate in mitosis-like fashion, the kinetochores of sister chromatids pointing
toward opposite poles
• Anaphase II (2n2c). The spindle fibers contract, the centromeres of sister
chromatids separate, the sister chromatids (daughter chromosomes) move
toward the opposite poles
• Telophase II (nc). Nuclei form at opposite poles of the cells. The four
haploid cells are formed at the completion of cytokinesis
 THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MITOSIS AND MEIOSIS
Event Mitosis Meiosis

DNA replication Occurs during interphase Occurs once before Meiosis I

before nuclear division begins
begins
Synapsis of Does not occur Occurs in Prophase I
homologous Is unique to meiosis
chromosomes
Number of One division Two divisions
divisions

Number of Two Four

daughter cells
Genetic Genetically identical to the Genetically non-identical to
composition of parent cell, contain same as the parent cell and to each
daughter cells many chromosome as other, contain half as many
parent cell chromosomes as parent cell
 BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MEIOSIS

 Provides constancy of the chromosomes number

from generation to generation by reducing the
chromosome number from diploid to haploid, thereby
producing haploid gametes

 Genetic variation of gametes results of recombination

of genetic material by crossing-over in Prophase I
and random assortment of maternal and paternal
chromosomes in Anaphase I
 GAMETOGENESIS

• Gametogenesis is a
process of gametes
formation n – number
chromosomes

• Oogenesis is a process of
formation of female
gametes

• Spermatogenesis is a
process of formation of
male gametes

• Gametogenesis occurs in
gonads (ovaries or testes)
 PERIODS OF GAMETOGENESIS

• REPRODUCTION – gonads’ cells undergo mitosis – gametogonia (oogonia or

spermatogonia) multiplication

• GROWTH – looks like interphase. The cells’ size increase, DNA replication takes
place (daughter chromatids synthesis); primary gametocytes (primary oocyte or
primary spermatocytes) formation

• MATURATION – the two meiotic divisions take place. The secondary gametocytes
(secondary oocyte and secondary spermatocytes) are formed result of the
Meoisis I; cells genetic composition – n2c. At the end of Meiosis II the spermatids
(spermatogenesis) and ovum (oogenesis) are formed

• DIFFERENTIATION (spermiogenesis) – the spermatids modification (the specific

shape and size alteration), sperm cell formation
 PERIODS OF GAMETOGENESIS
ZONE (PERIOD) PERIOD OF CELLS NAME NUMBER OF
OF CELL CYCLE CHROMOSOMES
GAMETOGENESIS AND CHROMATIDS
(DNA)

Reproduction Mitosis Gametogonia 2n2c

(oogonia/
spermatogonia)

Growth Interphase Primary gametocytes 2n4c

(primary oocyte/
primary spermatocytes)

Maturation Meiosis I Secondary n2c

gametocytes
(secondary oocyte/
secondary spermatocytes)

Meiosis II Gametes nc
(Ovum/spermatids)

Differentiation Interphase Gametes nc

(formation) (sperm cells)
only in
spermatogenesis
 HUMAN OVOGENESIS
takes place in ovaries

 Begins in emryogenesis: primordial

germ cells differentiate into
oogonia, which in turn develop into
primary oocyte
 Each primary oocyte is arrested at
Prophase of Meiosis I in
emryogenesis; starting at puberty, a
single primary oocyte completes
meiosis each month
 The meiotic divisions involve
unequal cytokinesis: the one bigger
secondary oocyte and the smaller
polar bodies are formed from one
primary oocyte
 The secondary oocyte complete
meiotic division only if the sperm
cell enters it
 HUMAN SPERMATOGENESIS
takes place in testes
 Begins in emryogenesis:
primordial germ cells differentiate
into spermatogonia,
 Spermatogonia develop into
primary spermatocytes and than
to spermatids and sperm cells
after puberty
 The developing cells are gradually
pushed from a location near the
outer wall of seminiferous tubule
toward the lumen (central
opening)
 The meiotic divisions involve
equal cytokinesis: the four
spermatids are formed from one
spermatogonium
 The motile sperm cell formation
takes 65 to 75 days in the human
 GAMETES: SECONDARY OOCYTE

 Rounded, big size

(approximately 130-
140 μm)
(helps
prevent  Immotile
polyspermy)
(it is required to
initiate the  Stays fertile
acrosome reaction)
approximately 24
hours

Structural features:
is surrounded by additional coats formed by follicular cells: outer thick
corona radiate and inner zona pellucida are existed
contains nucleus, cytoplasm, organelles
cytoplasm contains nutritive substances (yolk granules);
there are cortical granules near the plasma membrane that provide
polyspermy protection
 GAMETES:
SPERM CELL

 Small size (up to 70 μm)

 Mobile
 Stays fertile near 72 hours

Structural features:

Head
• Plasmalemma contains proteins involved in taxis and binding with egg;
• Nucleus with condensed haploid set of chromosomes;
• Acrosome with hydrolytic enzymes and hyaluronidase. It is modified Golgi apparatus.

Neck includes a pair of centrioles (proximal and distal centrioles, the last one gives
rise to the axial filament complex)

Middle piece contains many mitochondria arranged in spiral surrounding the

flagellum

Tail contains axial filament complex