4.2.
2 Meiosis
meiosis is a characteristic feature of organisms
that reproduce sexually.
• Meiosis is the division that produces sex cells
(gametes) in reproductive organs called Gonads
Ovaries- female animals reproductive organs
Meiosis in female is termed as
Oogenesis(formation /production of ova)
testes - male animals reproductive organs
Meiosis in male is termed as
spermatogenesis (formation /production of
sperm)
gametogenesis- formation of male &
female gamete
Gametogenesis
Spermatogenesis Oogenesis
anther and ovules of flowering plants.
• Meiosis involves two fissions of the nucleus
giving rise to four gametes or sex cells, each
possessing half the number of chromosomes
(n) present in the mother cell.
• Meiosis is called reduction division
Why?
• as the final daughter cells are haploid (n) as
compared to the diploid ( 2n) mother division.
Reduces the number of chromosome by half
What would happen if the human gametes (sperm
cell and egg cell), had 46 chromosomes like the
other body cells?
The answer- there will be 92 chromosomes in the
zygote, which will not be normal.
Thus, during gametogenesis (gamete formation) in
human ovaries and testes, the 46 chromosomes in
the initial mother will be reduced by half to 23
chromosomes by meiosis.
As a result, the sperm or egg cells nuclei will have 23
chromosomes (haploid, abbreviated as n).
So, when sperm and egg join together at fertilization, a
zygote that contains the normal number of 46
chromosomes (23 pairs, Diploid abbreviated as 2n) will
be formed.
Meiosis produces genetic variation through a process of
crossing over and
independent assortment
the principle that genes are inherited
independently of one another
Phases of meiosis
• has two phases,
meiosis I and
Meiosis II,
• Meiosis cell division has eight stages (four
stages for each meiosis).
• By the end of Meiosis II, the 1 diploid cell that
entered meiosis has become 4 haploid cells
A. Meiosis I
• In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes are
separated into two cells consisting of two
chromatids (chromosome pair) in each daughter
cell.
• Meiosis I is also called reduction division.
Steps of Meiosis-I
1. Prophase –I
• Prophase I is the first step in
meiosis-I
• chromosomes replicate to form
two sister chromatids.
• nuclear envelope disintegrates,
• the chromosomes begin to
condense and spindle fibers
appear.
• Homologous chromosome
Synapse
Crossing over take place
Crossing over/ Synapsis: - pairing of homologous
chromosomes
exchange genetic materials and variability in
inherited characteristics.
Chiasma-the point at which two chromatids join
during the fusion and exchange of genetic material
crossing over in cell division
2. Metaphase I
• the second step
• the pairs of chromosome align next to each other
along the center (equator) of the cell.
• When the pairs of chromosomes line up
randomly, they align themselves on either side of
the equator.
• The meiotic spindles extend from centrioles at
opposites poles of the cell and attach to one
chromosome of each pair
3. Anaphase I
• the third step
• the pair of chromosomes are then pulled apart by the
meiotic spindle.
• Each of the homologous chromosomes get pulled
towards opposite poles of the cell as the spindle fibres
retract.
• This equally divides the DNA between the two cells to be
formed (Diploid (2N )→ Haploid (N))
• Unlike what happens in mitosis and meiosis II, the sister
chromatids stay together
4. Telophase I
• the fourth step
• the chromosomes complete their move to the opposite
poles of the cell.
• the spindle fibres disappear, the nuclear envelope
reforms and
• a membrane forms around each set of chromosomes.
• Cytokinesis is the final phenomenon of Meiosis I
• the single cell pinches in the middle to form two separate
daughter cells
• each containing a half set of the parent chromosomes
within a nucleus (haploid)
Meiosis II
this division is like mitosis; the number of chromosomes
does not get reduced
Steps of Meiosis II
1. Prophase II
• first step in Meiosis II
• the chromosomes condense again into visible X-shaped
structures
• the membrane around the nucleus in each daughter cell
dissolves away releasing chromosomes,
• the centrioles duplicate and the meiotic spindle forms
again.
2. Metaphase II
• the second step in part two of
meiosis.
• Unlike metaphase I where
chromosomes line up in
homologous pairs, sister
chromatid line up end-to-end in
a single line along the equator
of the cell.
• Meiotic spindle fibers from the
centrioles at opposite poles
attach to each of the sister
chromatids
3. Anaphase II
• the third step in part two of
meiosis
• sister chromatids are pulled to
opposite poles of the equator due
to the action of the meiotic
spindle.
• The separated chromatids are now
individual chromosomes
4. Telophase II
• fourth step in part two of meiosis
• chromosomes complete their move to the opposite poles
• a membrane forms around each set of chromosomes.
• Cytokinesis: producing 4 non identical haploid daughter
cells
Meiosis creates 4 genetically
different gametes (haploid)
phases of meiosis I and II
Fig. depicts the different phases of meiosis I and II.
The similarities between mitosis and meiosis are as
follows
Both processes occur in the cell nuclei
Both involves the interphase and cell division
They have common stages – Prophase,
metaphase , anaphase and telophase
Synthesis of DNA occurs in both
Both produce daughter cells based on their
parent cells’ DNA
Table : Description of the different stages of Meiosis I and
Meiosis II
4.3 Renowned Ethiopian Geneticist
Dr. Melaku Worede
a geneticist and agronomist
is renowned for employing science to benefit poor
farmers and saving Africa’s seeds from extinction.
He was awarded the “Right livelihood Award” in
1989” for preserving Ethiopia’s genetic wealth by
building one of the
finest seed conservation centres in the world.”
He played key role in the establishment of the Plant Genetic
Resource centre in Addis Ababa, where he became Director
in 1979 and served for more than 14 years – until
retirement
After retirement, Dr. Melaku developed his pioneer work on
a framing based native seed (landrace) conservation,
enhancement and utilization.
He was able to develop and grow locally adapted native
seeds (e.g durum wheat) without commercial fertilizers or
other chemicals.
He was able to show that his native seeds exceeded their
high in put counterparts on the average by 10 – 15% and
the original farmers’ cultivars by 20 – 25% in yield.
Dr. Melaku Worede
Thank you!
