Meiosis

The meiotic cell division first time described by Van

Beneden in 1883
Meiotic cell division occurs in germ cells of all living
organism.
During meiosis, the genetic material of a diploid germ
cell undergoes two nuclear divisions and resulting in
to four haploid daughter cells.
Each daughter cells has one half of the number of
chromosomes as the parent cell.
There are two successive nuclear divisions in meiosis
as compared to the one division found in mitosis.
The two stages of meiosis are
1. Meiosis I
2. Meiosis II
 Meiosis I also called as Reductional Division
Meiosis II also called as Equational Division
Before a dividing cell enters meiosis, it undergoes a
period of growth called Interphase.
 INTERPHASE
The interphase just prior
to the entry of cell in to
meiosis is known as pre
meiotic interphase.
 During the S phase of pre
meiotic interphase,
chromosome replication
takes place.
 MEIOSIS I
 Meiosis I separate homologous chromosomes and
produce two cells with haploid chromosome number (N) for
that reason it is known as Reductional Division.
Meiosis I consist of four stages,
Prophase I
Metaphase I
Anaphase I and
Telophase I.
 PROPHASE I
Prophase I is the longest in duration compared to
Prophase in mitosis.
It takes about 85 - 95 percent of the total time for
meiosis and also much more complex.
The Prophase I divided into 5 stages (Le Za Pa Di
Dia).
Leptotene
Zygotene
Pachytene
Diplotene and
Diakinesis
 LEPTOTENE
The first stage of Prophase I
is called Leptotene or
leptonema.
All the chromosomes begin
to condense, so, they become
visible as fine thread.
There is marked increase in
the nuclear volume.
A process of 'homology
search' which is essential to
the initial pairing of
homologs, begins during
leptonema.
 ZYGOTENE
The zygotene stage also
known as zygonema.
This stage begins with the
initiation of pairing between
homologus chromosomes and
it ends with complete pairing.
The process of pairing (at end
to end) between homologus
chromosomes is known as
Synapsis (Homologous
dyads).
The syneptonemal complex is
form during these zygotene
stage.
At the completion of zygotene,
the paired homologs take the
form of bivalents.
The number of bivalents in
each species is equal to the
haploid number.
 PACHYTENE

The pachytene stage also

known as pachynema.
The process of synapsis is
complete.
The two homologus of each
bivalent appears to be
attached with each other at
one or more points, these
attachments are known as
chiasmata.
Crossing over is a precise
breakage, swapping and
reunion between two non-
sister chromatids.
Crossovers make new gene
combinations and which are
an important source of
genetic variations in
populations.
 DIPLOTENE

The diplotene stage also

known as diplonema.
DNA recombination is
complete.
The chromatids continue to
shorten and thicken and the
four sister chromatids in a
group is called a tetrad.
The synaptonemal complex
begins to break down.
The paired chromatids
begin to pull apart,
causing the strands to
separate longitudinally.
The chiasmata tend to
become terminalised as
the meiotic prophase
continues.
The chromomes become
DIAKINESIS
shorter and thicker due to
condensation.
Nucleolus and nuclear
envelope disappear
towards the end of
diakinesis.
The spindle apparatus
becomes organized.
The centrioles migrate
away from one another.
 METAPHASE I
All the bivalents migrate
within a cell migrate to
metaphase plate.
One homologue is pulled
above the metaphase plate,
the other below.
The centromeres of
homologous chromosomes of
each bivalent stretch out on
either side.
The centrioles are at
opposite poles of the cell.
Spindle fibers from one
pole of the cell attach to
one chromosome and
spindle fibers from the
opposite pole attach to the
homologous chromosome.
 ANAPHASE I

Chromosomes move to the

opposite poles.
The microtubules and the
kinetochore fibers interact,
which cause the movement.
A difference between
mitosis and meiosis is that
sister chromatids remain
joined after metaphase in
meiosis I, whereas in
mitosis they separate.
During Anaphase I original
chromosomes separate, so
reduction in the number of
chromosomes from 2N to N
number, yet the sister
chromatids remain
together.
The homologous chromosome
TELOPHASE I
complete their migration to
the two poles b/c shortning of
spindles.
The nuclear envelope
organized around two groups
of chromosomes.
The nucleolus also reappears.
 Cytokinesis
Cytokinesis involves the
formation of a cleavage furrow,
resulting in the pocketing of the
cell into two cells.
At the end of Telophase I and
Cytokinesis, two daughter cells
are produced, each with one
half of the number of
chromosomes (haploid set of
replicated chromosomes) of the
original parent cell.
 INTERKINESIS

Interkinesis ( Interphase II ) is similar to interphase

Meiosis II is the second part MEIOSIS II
of the meiotic process.
The Meiosis II consists
 Prophase II
Each dyad is composed of a pair of
sister chromatids attached by a
common centromere.
 Metaphase II
Centromeres are positioned at the
equatorial plane.
 Anaphase II
Centromeres divide and the sister
chromatids of each dyad are pulled
to opposite poles
Telophase II
 One member of each pair of

homologous chromosome present

in each pole.
 Each chromosome is referred as

monad (a combination of
maternal and paternal genetic
information).
 Nuclei reform around
chromosomes at the poles.
 Following cytokinesis and finally

four haploid gametes result from a

single meiotic event.
 Functions of Meiosis
1. Production of haploid (n) gametes: so, that
fertilization restores the normal somatic (2n)
chromosome number.
2. Production of tremendous amounts of genetic
variation.
3. Segregation of the two alleles of each gene. This take
place due to pairing between the two homologues of
each chromosome and their separation at the first
anaphase.
4. Recombination between linked genes due to crossing
over during pachytene stage.
5. Meiosis facilitates segregation and independent
assortment of chromosomes and genes.
6. In sexually reproducing species, meiosis is essential
for the continuity of generation. Because meiosis
results in the formation of male and female gametes
and union of such gametes leads to the development
of zygotes and thereby new individual.
 Mitosis Meiosis
1. Occurs in somatic cells Occurs in reproductive cells
2. One cell produces two daughter One cell produces four daughter cells
cells
3. It is an equational division It is a reduction division. The first stage is a
separating sister chromatids. reduction division which separates
homologous chromosomes at first
anaphase. Sister chromatids separate in an
equational division at II anaphase.
4. Only one division per cycle i.e. Two divisions per cycle i.e. two
one cytoplasmic division cytoplasmic divisions, one reduction
(cytokinesis) per equational division and equation division.
division.
5. Chromosomes fail to synapse. Chromosomes synapse and form
No chiasmata formation. chiasmata.
6. Genetic exchange between Genetic exchange through chiasmata
homologous chromosomes does occurs between homologous chromosomes.
not occur.
 Mitosis Meiosis
7 Genetic contents of daughter Genetic contents of daughter cells are
cells are identical. different.
8 Chromosome number of Chromosome number of daughter cells is
daughter cells is the same as half of that of mother cells.
that of mother cell.
9 Daughter cells are capable of Daughter cells are not capable of
undergoing additional mitotic undergoing another meiotic division
divisions. although they may undergo mitotic
division.
10 Start at the zygote stage and Occurs only after puberty, in higher
continues through the life of organisms,
the organism. but occurs in the zygote of algae and
fungi.
 GAMETOGENESIS
Gametogenesis is the process of production of haploid
sex cells.
Gametes have one-half the genetic material (haploid
chromosome numbers) from the germ cell of each
parent.
Fusion of spermatozoa and ova at time of fertilization
results in a zygote with diploid genome (chromosome
numbers).
The process of production of spermatozoa is called
Spermatogenesis and the process of production of
ovum is termed Oogenesis.
 Chromo Process
somes

Male Female Male Female

Spermatogonium Oogonium Diploid Spermatocytogenesis Oocytogenesis

Primary Primary Diploid Spermatidogenesis Ootidogenesis

Spermatocyte Oocyte (Folliculogenesis)

Secondary Secondary Haploid Spermatidogenesis Ootidogenesis

Spermatocytes Oocyte
Spermatazoa Ovum Haploid Spermiogenesis
SPERMATOGENESIS
Spermatogenesis is the process of producing sperm cell in
the male reproductive organs (testes) through a sequence of
cell divisions (spermatocytogenesis) and a metamorphic
change (spermiogenesis) to produce spermatozoa.
SPERMIOGENESIS
The differentiation of the spermatids into sperm cells is
called spermiogenesis.
Large, spherical, non-motile spermatid is
metamorphosed (converted) in to a small, elongated,
motile sperm (which possess three parts- head, middle
piece and tail).
Nuclear condensation
The nucleus moves to one edge of the cell;
Thickening and reduction of the nuclear size;
Condensation of the nuclear contents into the smallest space
 Cytoplasma reduction
 Elimination of all unnecessary cytoplasm

 Acrosome formation
 Golgi apparatus produces the acrosome containing

enzymes and it takes its place around the anterior end of

the sperm head.
 It plays an important role in the penetration through the

pellucid zone of the oocyte.

 Flagellum formation
 Form the sperm cell tail
 OOGENESIS
Oogenesis is the process of meiosis in female organisms from an
oogonium to a primary oocyte and from primary oocyte to a
secondary oocyte, and then to an ovum.

The gamete formed by oogenesis contains a haploid nucleus and

the oogenesis also builds up a store of cytoplasmic enzymes,
mRNAs, organelles, and metabolic substrates.

During the first division of oogenic meiosis, unequal

cytokinesis take place and result in one of the two daughter
cells containing hardly any cytoplasm, whereas the other
cell has nearly the entire volume of cellular constituents.
The smaller cell is called the first polar body, and the larger cell
is called as the secondary oocyte.

During the second division of meiosis, a similar unequal

cytokinesis takes place in secondary oocyte and result in one
large cell (ovum), and a small cell (second polar body).

The polar bodies receive the same chromosome

complement as the secondary oocyte and ovum, but are not
functional sex cells.

Because of accumulation of nutrient materials, an egg is usually

much larger than a sperm of the same species.