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MEIOSIS

1. Revision of cell division

 Cell division is the time period during which a cell grows, replicates genetic material and divides

 Interphase – the period between two

consecutive cell divisions and is when
DNA replication occurs
 Karyokenises – when the cell nucleus
and chromosomes divide
 Cytokenises – is the division of the
cytoplasm, organelles and cell membrane

2. Mitosis (Revision)

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE

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3. Structure- Cell, chromatids & chromosomes

 Chromosomes consist of a DNA molecule coiled

around proteins
 When a cell is not dividing the chromosomes
appears as Chromatin network
 The two chromatids are held together by a
Centromere
 After DNA replication a single stranded
chromosomes becomes a double stranded
chromosome

4. Human karyotype

 Somatic cells are all body cells except sex cells in an organisms
 Gametes are sex cells (sperm cell or egg cell)
 Humans have a double set chromosomes which is a Diploid number (2n)
 Humans have 46 chromosomes which is 2n = 46
 Since they are diploid it means they are paired.
 Each chromosome pair is similar in shape, size and genetic composition
 Each chromosome of the pair is inherited from the mother (maternal) and the other from the
father (paternal)
 This pair of chromosomes is referred to as a Homologous pair
 Gametes only have a single set of chromosomes which is referred to as Haploid number (n)
 Human games have 23 chromosomes (n=23)

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 A human karyotype is a complete diploid set of chromosomes, arranged according to their size,
shape and number in homologous chromosome pairs within a somatic cell of an organism

MALE XY FEMALE XX

 The human karyotype consists of 22 pairs of Autosomes and one pair of Gonosomes
 Autosomes – all chromosomes except sex chromosomes and are located from position 1 to 22
 Gonosomes – sex chromosomes that determine gender and are located on position 23 in humans
 A female has two X Gonosomes, meaning female has 44 + XX
 A male has one X and one Y gonosome, meaning a male has 44 + XY
 All normal human somatic cells contain 46 chromosomes or two sets of 23 chromosomes. One set
of 23 chromosomes comes from the father and the other set of 23 chromosomes comes from the
mother.

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5. Meiosis
 Meiosis is a type of cell division whereby a diploid cell (somatic cell) undergoes two cell divisions,
and divides to form four dissimilar haploid cells (gametes).
 Takes place during the formation of gametes in animal or spores in plants
 The chromosome number is halved from diploid (2n) to haploid (n)
 As a result meiosis is also referred to as Reduction division

 The daughter cells have one set of chromosomes and are not identical
 Therefore the daughter cells have half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell
 Meiosis is divided into two stages:
o Meiosis I – chromosome number is halved and exchange of genetic material occurs
o Meiosis II – daughter chromosomes are separated

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6. Events of interphase
 A phase between consecutive cell divisions where DNA replication occurs
 The centriole is also replicated during interphase

 Chromosomes which are single threads,

become double
 Each chromosome will now consist of
two chromatids (sister chromatids)
joined by a centromere
 DNA replication helps to double the
genetic material so that it can be shared
by the new cells arising from cell division

Description of homologous pair

 A pair of chromosomes that are similar in length
 Carry genes for the same characteristics
 Have the same centromere position
 One is obtained from each parent
 Have alleles at the same loci

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7. The process of Meiosis

MEIOSIS I

Prophase 1 -Chromatin network condenses and the threads shorten &

thicken to become visible as Chromosomes
-Homologous chromosomes themselves in pairs
-A bivalent consist of two homologous chromosomes
-Chromatids from each homologous chromosome overlap
and this is called Crossing over
-the point where they overlap is the Chiasma (chiasmata-
plural)
-Genetic material is exchanged between the homologous
chromosome thereby introducing variation
-The nucleolus and nuclear membrane disappear
Metaphase 1 -The chromosomes line up along the equator of the cell as
homologous pairs
-The homologous chromosomes attach to the spindle fibre
using the centromere
-Each pair of the homologous pair line up randomly on the
equator independently of how other pairs line up. This is
called Random/Independent Assortment
-Random assortment also brings about genetic variation
Anaphase 1 -The spindle fibre shortens/contracts thereby separating the
homologous chromosomes as they move to the opposite
poles of the spindle
-Therefore Anaphase 1 is the separation of homologous
chromosomes

Telophase 1 -Spindle fibres disappears

-Nuclear membrane and nucleolus form
-Cytokinesis occurs
-Two daughter cells are formed with half the number of
chromosomes of the mother cell

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MEIOSIS II

Prophase 2 -The spindle fibre reforms

-The nucleolus and nuclear membrane disappear
-Each chromosome consists of two chromatids
joined at the centromere

Metaphase 2 -The chromosomes attach to the spindle fibre

using the centromere
-Each chromosome lines up randomly on the
equator independently of how other
chromosomes line up (Random/Independent
Assortment)

Anaphase 2 -The spindle fibre shortens/contracts thereby

splitting the centromere of each chromosome
-the two chromatids/daughter chromosomes
are pulled to opposite poles of the cell
-Therefore Anaphase 2 is the separation of
chromosomes

Telophase 2 -Spindle fibres disappears

-Nuclear membrane and nucleolus from
-Cytokinesis occurs
-Four daughter cells are formed with half the
number of chromosomes of the mother cell.
-The four daughter cells are genetically different
because of crossing over and random
assortment

ADAPTED BY MR S.J SILAULE

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8. Importance and significance meiosis

 Production of gametes that are genetically different
 Prevents the chromosome number of an organism from doubling with every generation (Doubling
effect)
 Forms gametes for sexual reproduction
 Introduction of genetic variation through:
o Crossing over
o Random assortment of chromosomes

CROSSING OVER RANDOM /INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT

 During prophase 1  During Metaphase I

 Homologous chromosomes pair up
 Each chromosome has 2 chromatids
 Chromatids overlap/cross over
 Points at which crossing-over takes place are
referred to as chiasmata
 Genetic material is exchanged between the sister
chromatids
 After the process of crossing-over chromosomes
have genes/alleles from its homologous partner
 This means that each gamete formed will have a
mix of genes/alleles from both parents
 Brings about variation in the gametes formed
and also the offspring
 Each pair of homologous chromosomes
 may line up randomly on the equator
 Independently of what the other pairs are doing
 During Metaphase II
 Each individual chromosome
 may line up randomly at equator
 This means that gametes will have a differing mix
of maternal and paternal chromosomes

9. Abnormal meiosis and consequences

 If meiosis does not take normally, the gametes

may have abnormalities such as change in
number or structure of the chromosomes. This
can lead to Non-disjunction
 Non-disjunction is the failure of chromosomes to
separate during Anaphase I or II
 In Anaphase I it is homologous chromosomes
that fail to separate and in anaphase II its sister
chromatids that fail to separate
 Non-disjunction causes DOWN SYNDROME

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10. Down syndrome

-Down syndrome is a condition caused by presence of 47

chromosomes instead of 46 chromosomes in each somatic cell of an
individual

-As the age of mother increases, chances of having Down syndrome

baby increases

Symptoms of Down syndrome; mental retardation, slanting eyes,

abnormal ears,

CAUSE OF DOWN SYNDROME

During Anaphase I of meiosis I the chromosome pair 21 does not

separate, could also occur during meiosis II chromatids fail to
separate. One gamete will have an extra chromosome (24
chromosomes). If this gamete fuses with a normal gamete with 23
chromosomes the resulting zygote will have 47 chromosomes

11. Differences between Meiosis I & II

MEOSIS I MEIOSIS II
 Crossing over takes place  No crossing over takes place
 In metaphase the chromosomes align on the equator  In metaphase chromosomes
in homologous pairs  align singly on the equator
 Reduction division  No reduction division
 During anaphase whole chromosomes move towards  During anaphase chromatids move towards
the poles the pole
 Homologous chromosomes in  Chromosomes occur singly in
 prophase I  prophase II

12. Similarities between mitosis and meiosis

 DNA replication occurs in both
 Nucleus divides in both
 Cytoplasm divides in both
 Both consist of all four phases (P.M.A.T)

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13.Differences between mitosis and meiosis
Mitosis
Occurs to form somatic cells
One nuclear division
Two cells are formed with the same number of
chromosomes as the mother cell
Two cells are formed that are genetically identical
to each other and to the mother cell
During prophase the chromosomes are not in pairs
No crossing over
During Anaphase the chromosome splits and
chromatids/daughter chromatids are pulled
towards the opposite poles
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Meiosis
Occurs to form gametes
Two nuclear divisions
Four daughter cells are formed with half the
number of chromosomes as the mother cell
Four daughter cells are formed which are
genetically different from each other and the
mother cell
During prophase I the chromosomes come
together as homologous pair
Crossing over takes place during prophase I
During Anaphase I, whole chromosomes are pulled
towards the opposite poles. The chromosome
does not split