Meosis 2

Question 1

Prophase II

Answer 1

The nuclear envelope breaks down and chromosomes condense

A spindle forms at a right angle to the old one

Question 2

Metaphase II

Answer 2

Chromosomes line up in a single file along the equator of the spindle

Question 3

Anaphase II

Answer 3

Centromeres divide and individual chromatids are pulled to opposite poles

This creates four groups of chromosomes that have half the number of chromosomes compared to the original parent cell

Question 4

Telophase II

Answer 4

Nuclear membranes form around each group of chromosomes

Question 5

Cytokinesis

Answer 5

Cytoplasm divides as new cell surface membranes are formed creating four haploid cells
The cells still contain the same number of centromeres as they did at the start of meiosis I but they now only have half the number of chromosomes (previously chromatids

Question 6

Exam Tip
Understanding the difference between chromosomes and chromatids can be difficult. We count chromosomes by the number of centromeres present. So when the 46 chromosomes duplicate during interphase and the amount of DNA in the cell doubles there are still only 46 chromosomes present because there are still only 46 centromeres present. However, there are now 92 chromatids, which are strands of replicated chromosomes.