Lecture 14 (Eukaryotic cell division - meiosis) Flashcards
Clonal reproduction
Single-celled organisms usually reproduce by binary fission
Multicellular plants and animals can also use vegetative means - runners, bulbs, tubers, rhizomes; anemone, sponge, starfish
Sexual cycle
In this cycle there is an alternation between cells that are diploid and cells that are haploid.
Found in almost all eukaryotes
Meiosis- fertilisation - mitosis and development and then repeat
Sexual reproduction - two parents contribute genetic information to produce unique offspring
n
The letter n symbolises the haploid number of chromosomes
Haploid
Haploid is the term used when a cell has half the usual number of chromosomes. (n)
Diploid
Diploid is a cell or organism that has paired chromosomes, one from each parent. (2n)
Why do gametes use meiosis and not mitosis?
If gametes were produced by mitosis, they would be 2n, and resulting embryos would be 4n. Meiosis is a process of cell division that halves the number of chromosomes going into gametes (n), so that diploid number (2n) is retained in the zygote
Meiosis
Cell division that creates gametes which contain half the number of chromosomes (to a somatic cell)
After the chromosomes duplicate in interphase, the diploid cell divides twice, yielding four haploid daughter cells.
Meiosis produces four daughter cells that contain unreplicated chromosomes
What cells does meiosis occur in?
Only in the reproductive cells/gametes (the ovaries and testes in humans)
Interphase
Chromosomes duplicated to form two sister chromatids. Forms a diploid cell with duplicated chromosomes
Meiosis 1 summary
This cell division separates homologous chromosomes. Produces haploid cells with duplicated chromosomes.
Meiosis 2 summary
This cell division separates sister chromatids. Produces haploid cells with unduplicated chromosomes
Prophase 1
Homologous chromosomes align and synapse (Chromatids are still attached by the centromere)
Crossing over between non-sister chromatids occurs at chiasmata (involves the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids)
Crossing over results in chromatids now being a mix of pieces from each homologous chromosome
Metaphase 1
Paired homologous chromosomes move to the metaphase plate
Chiasmata (not kinetochores, as in mitosis) line up on metaphase plate
Both chromatids of one homolog are attached to kinetochore microtubules from one pole whilst the chromatids of the other homolog are attached to microtubules from the opposite poles
Anaphase 1
Recombined homologous chromosomes seperate (disjoin)
Sister chromatids remain attached (in anaphase of mitosis, sister chromosomes seperate)
Telophase 1 and cytokinesis
Haploid cells with duplicated chromosomes (the pairs of sister chromatids) form
Haploid because only half the genetic information is in each new cell
Cytokinesis (division of the cytoplasm) usually occurs simultaneously
Prophase 2
Start off with haploid cells, haploid because the two sister chromatids are identical
Spindles start to form
Metaphase 2
The chromosomes are positioned at the metaphase plate as in mitosis
Because of crossing over in meiosis 1, the two sister chromatids of each chromosome are not genetically identical
The kinetochores of sister chromatids are attached to microtubules extending from opposite poles