Meiosis Flashcards
What is meiosis?
Leads to the production of haploid gametes or spore
• produces genetically variable cells
What happens in meiosis 1?
• separation of homologous chromosome pairs
• reduction of the chromosome number by half (reduction division)
• 2n —> n
What happens in meiosis 2?
• separation of sister chromatids
• also known as equational division
n —> n
What are the steps of meiosis I?
- Prophase 1
- Metaphase 1
- Anaphase 1
- Telophase 1
What is process between meiosis I and II called?
Interkinesis
What happens in interkinesis?
• nuclear membrane reforms around the chromosomes clustered at each pole
• spindle breaks down
• chromosomes relax
What happens in prophase 1?
• chromosomes begin to condense and the spindle forms
• homologous chromosomes pair
• crossing over takes place
• the nuclear membrane breaks down
What are the five stages of prophase 1?
- Leptotene
- Zygotene
- Pachytene
- Diplotene
- Diakinesis
What happens in leptotene?
Chromosomes condense and become visible
What happens in zygotene?
• homologous chromosomes pair up and begin synapsis
What is synapsis?
Close pairing of homologous chromosomes
What is a tetrad?
• closely associated homologous chromosomes
• 4 copies of dna
Consists of 4 chromatids
What happens during pachytene?
• chromosomes become shorter and thicker
• synaptonemal complex develops between homologous chromosomes
What happens during diplotene?
• centromeres of paired chromos move apart
• the two homologs remain attached at chiasmata
What is a the chiasmata?
• where the 2 chromos cross
What happens during diakinesis?
• chromosomes condensation continues
• nuclear membrane breaks down
• spindle forms
• crossing over happens
What happens in metaphase 1?
Random alignment of homologous pairs of chromosomes along the metaphase plate
What happens in anaphase 1?
The homologous chromosomes separate and move toward opposite poles
What happens in telophase 1?
Chromosomes arrive at the spindle poles and the cytoplasm divides
What happens in prophase 2?
INTERKINESIS REVERSED
• Chromosomes recondense
• spindle reforms
• nuclear membrane breaks down
What happens in metaphase 2?
• replicated chromos line up on metaphase plate
• sister chromatids facing opposite poles
What happens in anaphase 2?
• sister chromatids separate
• chromatids are pulled to opposite poles
• each chromatid is now a distinct chromosome
What happens in telophase 2?
• Chromos arrive at spindle poles
• the spindle breaks down
• nuclear membrane re-forms around the chromos
• cytoplasm divides
• Chromos relax
What are the products of meiosis?
• 4 haploid cells
• n