Notes

A diagram for stages of meiosis II

Prophase II

The nuclear membrane and nuclei

break up while the spindle network
appears.
Chromosomes do not replicate any
further in this phase of meiosis.
The chromosomes begin migrating to
the metaphase II plate (at the cell's
equator).

Metaphase II

The chromosomes line up at the

metaphase II plate at the cell's center
The kinetochore fibers of the sister
chromatids point toward opposite poles.

Anaphase II

Sister chromatids separate and begin

moving to opposite ends (poles) of the
cell. Spindle fibers not connected to
chromatids lengthen and elongate the cell.
Once the paired sister chromatids
separate from one another, each is
considered a fullchromosome. They are
referred to as daughter chromosomes.
In preparation for the next stage of
meiosis, the two cell poles also move
further apart during the course of anaphase
II. At the end of anaphase II, each pole
contains a complete compilation of
chromosomes.

Telophase II

Distinct nuclei form at the opposite

poles.
Cytokinesis (division of
the cytoplasm and the formation of two
distinct cells) occurs.
At the end of meiosis II, four
daughter cells are produced. Each cell has

one half the number of chromosomes as

the original parent cell.

A diagram for stages in mitosis

Interphase

Prophase

Metaphase

Notes
Longest phase of the cell cycle, known as
the "resting phase", and the cell does not
divide, and it's the peroid of cell growth
and metabolism.
The DNA replicates or duplicates in this
phase.

Begins as DNA threads in the nucleus

condense into easily visible
chromosomes.
The chromosomes were actually
replicated towards the end of interphase,
and each copy is called a chromatid.
A chromosome is x-shaped, with two
chromatid copies joined together at a
point called the centromere.
At the same time, spindle fibers extend
from the two centrioles towards the
chromosomes.
The nuclear envelope breaks down,
spilling the chromosomes into the
cytoplasm.
The spindle fibers attach to the
centromeres and the two centrioles begin
moving away from each other.
After the chromosomes are released from
the nucleus by the breakdown of the
nuclear membrane near the end of
prophase, the centrioles finish the
migration to opposite sides of the cell.
The spindle fibers, which still attach the
chromosomes to both centrioles, along
with the pulling force of the two
centrioles, align the chromosomes along


Anaphase

Telophase

the cell equator.

This arrangement is called the metaphase
plate.
The cell moves into anaphase the instant
the chromatids are separated.
The chromatids become V-shaped as they
are pulled at the center by the centrioles
to the opposite sides of the cell.
At the same time, the cell begins to
elongate in preparation for cell division.
Telophase begins around the time the
chromosomes stop moving after being
separated in anaphase.
The condensed genetic material begins to
uncoil and extend and spindle fibers
disappear.
At the same time, two nuclear membranes
form around the newly-migrated DNA,
and for a short time the cell has two
complete nuclei.
Cytokinesis continues throughout the
phase and is finished after telophase.
Once division is complete, the cell
immediately moves back into interphase.