MEIOSIS

The significance of meiosis

Meiosis
Cell division that is
vital for sexual
reproduction
Takes place in
reproductive organs
Results in formation
of haploid gametes
The four daughter
cells are not
genetically identical
 Meiosis
For a good self teaching tutorial on
meiosis go to:

http://www4.ncsu.edu/unity/users/b/bnchorle/www/

OR

http://www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/tutorials/meiosis/ma
in.html
 Meiosis and genetic
variation
There are two main ways in which
genetic
variation occurs at meiosis:

1. Random segregation of
chromosomes
2. Crossing over
Meiosis and genetic
variation
Random segregation
During metaphase 1
homologous
chromosomes arrive at
the equator
They arrange
themselves in a random
order on the equator
Meiosis and genetic
variation
Random segregation
In a cell with just two
pairs of chromosomes
there are four different
types of outcomes for
the way the
chromosomes can
separate.
Meiosis and genetic
variation
Random segregation
In human cells with 23
chromosomes there
are 223 different
possible ways the
chromosomes can
segregate!
That is over 8 000 000
different types of
gamete
 Meiosis and genetic
variation
During fertilisation any male
gamete can join with any female
gametes.
So thousands of millions of new
genetic combinations are possible.
Meiosis and genetic
variation
Crossing over
During prophase
1 of meiosis
homologous
chromosomes
come together in
pairs
 Meiosis and genetic
variation
Crossing over
Each chromosome is divided into
two chromatids
The homologous chromosomes
twist around each other
This creates tension, which may
cause breaks to occur along the
length of the chromatids
 Meiosis and genetic
variation
Crossing over
During cross over, corresponding
fragments may get swapped over.
This “cutting and sticking” means
that genetic material is exchanged.
This creates new genetic
combinations and variation in the
gametes is increased.
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions

the number of chromosomes

remains the same
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes
do not pair up
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes homologous chromosomes
do not pair up pair up to form bivalents
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes homologous chromosomes
do not pair up pair up to form bivalents
chiasmata do not form and
cross over never occurs
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes homologous chromosomes
do not pair up pair up to form bivalents
chiasmata do not form and chiasmata form and cross
over
cross over never occurs occurs
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes homologous chromosomes
do not pair up pair up to form bivalents
chiasmata do not form and chiasmata form and cross over
cross over never occurs occurs
daughter cells are genetically
identical
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes homologous chromosomes
do not pair up pair up to form bivalents
chiasmata do not form and chiasmata form and cross over
cross over never occurs occurs
daughter cells are genetically daughter cells are genetically
identical different from the parent cells
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes homologous chromosomes
do not pair up pair up to form bivalents
chiasmata do not form and chiasmata form and cross over
cross over never occurs occurs
daughter cells are genetically daughter cells are genetically
identical different from the parent cells
two daughter cells are formed
 Differences between mitosis and
meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
one division two divisions
the number of chromosomes the number of
remains the same chromosomes is halved
homologous chromosomes homologous chromosomes
do not pair up pair up to form bivalents
chiasmata do not form and chiasmata form and cross over
cross over never occurs occurs
daughter cells are genetically daughter cells are genetically
identical different from the parent cells
two daughter cells are formed four daughter cells are formed