Meiosis

How does sexual reproduction lead to genetic variation?

Why?
Cells reproduce through mitosis to make exact copies of the original cell. This is done for growth and
repair. Sexually-reproducing organisms have a second form of cell division that produces reproductive cells
with half the number of chromosomes. This process is called meiosis, and without it, humans, oak
trees, beetles, and all other sexually-reproducing organisms would be vastly different than they are
today.

Model 1 – Meiosis I
Sister Single Homologous
chromatids chromosome chromosomes
come together
to form a
tetrad

Cell from the sex

organs (ovaries/testes in
animals) during Early Prophase I Late Prophase I
Interphase I

Telophase I
Metaphase I Anaphase I

1. According to Model 1, in what type of organs are the cells that enter meiosis I found?

2. Considering what you already know about mitosis in cells, what event must take place
during interphase before a cell proceeds to division?

Meiosis 1
 3. What two structures make up a single replicated chromosome?

4. In Model 1, how many replicated chromosomes does the cell contain during prophase?

Read This!
Alleles are alternative forms of the same gene. For example, gene A may contain the information
for fur color. One allele “A” may result in white fur, while the alternative allele “a” may result in
black fur.
Homologous chromosomes are chromosomes that contain the same genes, although each chromosome
in the homologous pair may have different alleles.
5. At which stage in meiosis I do the pairs of homologous chromosomes come together?

6. Once the chromosomes have formed a pair, what are they called?

7. At the end of meiosis I, two cells have been produced. How many replicated chromosomes are
in each of these cells?

8. Cells with a full set of chromosomes are referred to as diploid or 2n, whereas cells with half
the chromosomes are haploid or n. At which stage(s) of meiosis I are the cells diploid and at
which stage(s) are they haploid?

9. Which of the statements below correctly describes the relationship between the cells at the end
of telophase I and the original cell?
a. The new cells have one copy of all of the genetic information in the original cell.
b. The new cells have two copies of all of the genetic information in the original cell.
c. The new cells have one copy of half of the genetic information in the original cell.
d. The new cells have two copies of half of the genetic information in the original cell.

10. Considering the genetic makeup of the homologous pairs, will the cells at the end of
telophase I be genetically identical to each other?

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Model 2 – Meiosis II

Two cells
from Meiosis Metaphase II Anaphase II Telophase II
I in Prophase
II

11. According to Model 2, where did each of the cells come from that started meiosis II?

12. In meiosis I, during anaphase I, which structures separated—homologous chromosomes or

sister chromatids?

13. In meiosis II, during anaphase II, which structures separated—homologous chromosomes or
sister chromatids?

14. At the end of the meiosis II are four daughter cells. Are they haploid or diploid? Explain
your answer in a complete sentence.

15. Which of the statements below correctly describes the relationship between the cells at the end
of meiosis II and the original cell?
a. The new cells have one copy of all of the genetic information in the original cell.
b. The new cells have two copies of all of the genetic information in the original cell.
c. The new cells have one copy of half of the genetic information in the original cell.
d. The new cells have two copies of half of the genetic information in the original cell.

Meiosis 3
Model 3 – Gametogenesis and Fertilization
(Human)
Males Females
Secondary
Secondary oocyte (end of
spermatocyte meiosis I)
(end of meiosis
I)

Fertilization Oocyte proceeds

to meiosis II

Spermatids Polar body

(end of eventually
meiosis II) degenerates

Mature Zygote with half its

sperm chromosmes from
the female (maternal)
and half from the
male (paternal)

16. According to Model 3, what is the name given to the cells produced at the end of meiosis I
in males?

17. What is the name given to the cells produced at the end of meiosis I in females?

18. Refer to Model 3.

a. At the end of meiosis II in males, what cells are produced?

b. What do these cells (from the previous question) eventually become?

19. Before fertilization, what happens to the secondary oocyte?

20. During fertilization which two cells come together? Be specific in your answer.
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Biology
 21. During meiosis II, the secondary oocyte divides unevenly, with one cell (the ovum) receiving
half of the chromosomes and nearly all the cytoplasm and organelles, while the other cell, the
polar body, is much smaller and eventually degenerates. With your group, propose an
explanation to explain why the secondary oocyte divides in this way.

22. What is the ploidy of the zygote produced by fertilization—haploid or diploid?

23. What would the ploidy of the zygote be if egg and sperm were produced by mitosis rather
than meiosis? How would this affect the ploidy of each successive generation?

24. With your group write a statement to explain the origin of the chromosomes found in the
zy- gote. Your statement must include the term homologous pair.

Meiosis 5
Extension Questions
Model 4 – Crossover of DNA in Chromosomes

Chiasma

Homologous pair of Recombinant chromatids

chromosomes (tetrad) during
Prophase I

25. At which stage of meiosis are the chromosomes in Model 4?

26. When the chromosomes come together as homologous pairs, the arms of the sister
chromatids may cross over.
a. What are these crossover points called?

b. Describe what happens to the chromatids during crossover.

27. What phrase is used to describe the chromatids after crossing over takes place and the
homolo- gous chromosomes separate?

28. Compare the recombinant chromatids with the original pair.

a. Are the genes on a recombinant chromatid the same as the original chromatid?

b. Are the alleles on a recombinant chromatid the same as the original chromatid?

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Model 5 – Genetic Variation

OR

OR

Early Prophase I

OR

Late Prophase I

Late Telophase I

29. Model 5 is a condensed version of meiosis I. Notice the two possible arrangements of
chromo- somes in late prophase I. Considering what you know about DNA replication and
meiosis, is either arrangement equally likely during the formation of tetrads in late
prophase I? Explain.

30. If there were three sets of homologous chromosomes in the cell in Model 5, how many
possible arrangements would there be for the tetrads in late prophase I?

Read This!
When homologous chromosome pairs align on the spindle during metaphase I the orientation of one
pair is independent of the orientation of any other pair. This is known as independent assortment.
Humans have 46 chromosomes, arranged as 23 pairs. During metaphase I each pair lines up
independently, which results in 223 possible combinations.
31. With your group, calculate the number of possible genetic combinations due to
independent assortment.

Meiosis 7
 32. As a group, choose one set of daughter cells in late telophase I from Model 5. Imagine that
those cells now undergo meiosis II. Draw at least four resulting haploid cells that could
result.

33. Meiosis and sexual reproduction each lead to variation in the genetic make-up of every
person. With your group, explain how meiotic events, as well as the random fertilization of
eggs and sperm, together lead to this genetic variation.

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