MODULE 3

AIM

The aim of this module is to provide students with an introduction to meiosis.

CONTENTS AND OBJECTIVES

· Introduction to meiosis
· Meiosis I
· Meiosis II
· Significance of meiosis
· How is meiosis different from mitosis
 Meiosis
INTRODUCTION

· The type of cell division which reduces the chromosome number by half resulting in the
production of haploid daughter cells during sexual reproduction is known as meiosis.
· In animals these daughter cells are called as gametes. However, sexually reproducing
plants have an alternation of haploid and diploid generations. A haploid generation called
ovule in females is produced by meiosis in flowering plants. The ovule then undergoes
mitosis to produce female gamete ready for fertilization.
· The haploid daughter cells thus formed are genetically different from the parental cell.
· During meiosis, a diploid cell (having two sets of chromosomes called homologous
pairs) divides twice to produce 4 haploid daughter cells (each having single set of
chromosomes).
· During the process the homologous chromosome pairs separate.
· The gametes produced as a result of meiosis are eggs (in females) and sperm (in males).
· During reproduction, once the egg and sperm have united to form a zygote, the number
of chromosomes is restored.
· In meiosis, there is only one round of DNA replication and two rounds of nuclear
divisions (meiosis I and meiosis II).

One round of DNA Meiosis I Meiosis II

replication

2n, 4C 1n, 2C 1n, C

· Meiosis I is unique to germ cells while meiosis II is identical to mitosis.

· Both meiosis I and meiosis II have several phases.
· The interphase of meiosis is similar to interphase of mitosis.
· Meiosis is not seen in bacteria because they reproduce asexually.
 Involves two sequential cycles of Initiated after the parental
nuclear and cell divisions called chromosomes have replicated to
meiosis I and meiosis II but only a produce identical sister chromatids
single cycle of DNA replication. at the S-phase.

MEIOSIS

Involves pairing of homologous

Four haploid cells are formed at the
chromosomes and recombination
end of meiosis II.
between them.

MEIOSIS I
· During meiosis I separation of homologous chromosomes occurs resulting in two haploid
cells (n chromosomes and 2C DNA).
· It is also referred to as reductional division.
· Meiosis I is completed in following phases:

1. Prophase 1
This is the longest phase of meiosis. During this the homologous chromosomes pair and
exchange parts of chromosomes (crossing over). Crossing over is an important source of
genetic variations and forms new combinations of alleles.
It is a comparatively longer phase and characterized by many events as mentioned
below:
Leptotene- During this stage the chromosomes in the nucleus become visible under the
light microscope. This phase lasts for a shorter duration and is characterized by
continuous coiling and condensation of chromatin fibres.
Zygotene- Pairing (or synapsis) of homologous chromosomes becomes visible during
this stage. Synapsis is facilitated by the formation of a structure called synaptonemal
complex. The paired chromosomes are referred to as tetrads/bivalents. Each bivalent
has two chromosomes and four chromatids.
 Pachytene- The tetrad is clearly visible with four chromatids at this stage. Crossing over
between the occur and genetic information between the two homologous chromosomes
is shared.
Diplotene- At this stage the synaptonemal complex dissolves and the homologous
chromosomes separate from each other. However they remained connected at the sites of
crossovers. This gives rise to an X-shaped structure known as chiasmata.
Diakinesis- The chiasmata is terminalised during this stage. By the end of diakinesis, the
nuclear membrane breaks down and the nucleolus disappears.

2. Metaphase I
Homologous chromosomes align at the metaphase plate at this stage. The microtubules
from the opposite poles of the spindle attach to the pair of homologous choromosomes.

3. Anaphase I
At this stage, the homologous chromosomes move apart towards the opposite poles.
Sister chromatids remain attached at their centromeres.

4. Telophase I
The nuclear membrane and nucleolus start appear again. Each daughter has exactly half
the number of chromosomes but each chromosome has a pair of chromatids. The
chromosomes unfold back into chromatin. This is followed by cytokinesis.
 Reduction division

The chromosome number is reduced to half, i.e.,

MEIOSIS I
from diploid to haploid.

Crossing over occurs which results in exchange of

genetic material.

MEIOSIS

Equational division.

MEIOSIS II The number of chromosomes remains unaltered.

Crossing over does not take place in meiosis II

MEIOSIS II
· The second meiotic division (meiosis II) is also known as equational division.
· Meiosis II is identical to mitosis.
· There is no reduction in the chromosome number except in meiosis II four haploid
daughter cells are produced.

Prophase II- Immediately after cytokinesis there is disappearance of nuclear membrane

and nucleolus at prophase II. At this stage the chromosome becomes compact again.

Metaphase II- The chromosomes align at the equator and the microtubules from opposite
poles of the spindle get attached to the kinetochores of sister chromatids.

Anaphase II- At this stage, the sister chromatids which are attached at the centromere get
separated and move towards the opposite poles.
Telophase II- It is the last stage of meiosis. This stage is marked by decondensation and
lengthening of the chromosomes and the disassembly of the spindle.

Significance Of Meiosis

1. It ensures the same chromosome number (n) in the all the sexually reproducing
organisms.
2. It helps to restrict the number of chromosomes and maintains stability of the species.
3. Crossing over which occurs between the homologous chromosomes during meiosis is
a significant source of genetic variations among the offspring.
4. All four sister chromatids of homologous chromosomes segregate and go to four
different daughter cells. This makes the four daughter cells genetically different.
 How Is Meiosis Different From Mitosis

S.No. Mitosis Meiosis

1 Mitosis occurs in both sexually Meiosis occurs in only sexually
as well as asexually reproducing reproducing organisms.
organisms.
2 Mitosis takes place in the Meiosis takes place in the germ cells.
somatic cells of the body.
3 During mitosis, the cell During meiosis, the cell undergoes two
undergoes only one nuclear nuclear divisions.
division.
4 DNA replication takes place at DNA replication takes place at
interphase I. interphase I but not at interphase II.
5 Prophase is comparatively Prophase is little comparatively simple
simple. and is divided into further subphases.

6 Synapsis does not occur in Synapsis of homologous chromosomes

mitosis. occur at prophase.
7 Crossing over between sister Crossing over occurs between sister
chromatids of homologous chromatids of homologous
chromosomes does not occur chromosomes.
during mitosis.
MEIOSIS I

MEIOSIS II