CELL DIVISION

There are two types of cell division that take place in living organisms. These are mitosis and meiosis.

Mitosis

The cell division that takes place during the growth and development of an organism is known as
mitosis. It occurs during asexual reproduction and takes place in body cells that are not involved in
reproduction. These cells are called somatic cells. The number of chromosomes in each somatic cell of
an organism is called the diploid number (2n).

Meiosis

Meiosis is the cell division that gives rise to gametes and haploid spores. In flowering plants and
animals, it occurs only in the reproductive cells. Meiosis is a reductive cell division because the four
daughter cells formed after meiosis only contain half its chromosomes. This is called haploid number
(n).

Stages of Meiosis

Meiosis consists of two successive divisions

1st meiotic division- when the parent cells split into two, and

2nd meiotic division- when the products then divide again giving a total of four daughter cells.

First Meiotic Division (Meiosis I)

This first division (reduction division) is divided into five stages of:

Interphase I: DNA is replicated to produce chromosomes consisting of two sister chromatids and
prepare for cell division.

Prophase I: Chromosomes condense, nuclear membrane breaks down, homologous chromosomes

form bivalents, the centrioles begin to move to opposite, spindle begin to form, crossing over occurs.

Metaphase I: Spindle fibres from opposing centrosomes connect to bivalents (at centromeres) and align
them along the middle of the cell(equator).

Anaphase I: Spindle fibres contract and split the bivalent, homologous chromosomes move to opposite
poles of the cell.

Telophase I: Chromosomes decondense, nuclear membrane may reform, cell divides (cytokinesis) to

form two haploid daughter cells.

Second Meiotic Division (Meiosis II)

The second division separates sister chromatids (these chromatids may not be identical due to crossing
over in prophase I) 

Prophase-II: Chromosomes condense, nuclear membrane dissolves, centrosomes move to opposite

poles (perpendicular to before)
Metephase-II: Spindle fibres from opposing centrosomes attach to chromosomes (at centromere) and
align them along the cell equator

Anaphase-II: Spindle fibres contract and separate the sister chromatids, chromatids (now called
chromosomes) move to opposite poles

Telophase-II: Chromosomes decondense, nuclear membrane reforms, cells divide (cytokinesis) to form

four haploid daughter cells 

The final outcome of meiosis is the production of four haploid daughter cells