MEIOSIS

Organisms that reproduce Sexually are made up of two different types of cells.

1. Somatic Cells are “body” cells and contain the normal number of chromosomes ….called the “Diploid” number (the symbol is 2n). Examples would be … skin cells, brain cells, etc.

2. Gametes are the “sex” cells and contain only ½ the normal number of chromosomes…. called the “Haploid” number (the symbol is n)….. Sperm cells and ova are gametes.

n = number of chromosomes in the set… so….2n means 2 chromosomes in the set…. Polyploid cells have more than two chromosomes per set… example: 3n (3 chromosomes per set)

Gametes• The Male Gamete is the Sperm and is produced in the male gonad the Testes.

• The Female Gamete is the Ovum (ova = pl.) and is produced in the female gonad the

Ovaries.

During Ovulation the ovum is released from the ovary and transported to an area where fertilization, the joining of the

sperm and ovum, can occur…… fertilization, in Humans, occurs in the Fallopian tube. Fertilization results in the formation of the

Zygote. (fertilized egg)

Sperm + Ovum (egg) Zygotefertilization

FertilizationFertilization

• The fusion of a spermsperm and eggegg to form a zygotezygote.• A zygote is a fertilized egg

n=23egg

sperm n=23

2n=46zygote

Humans have 23 Sets of Homologous ChromosomesEach Homologous set is made up of 2 Homologues.

Homologue

Homologue

AutosomesAutosomes(The Autosomes code for most of the offspring’s traits)(The Autosomes code for most of the offspring’s traits)

In Humans the “Autosomes” are sets 1 - 22

Sex ChromosomesSex ChromosomesThe Sex Chromosomes code for the sex of the offspring.The Sex Chromosomes code for the sex of the offspring.

** If the offspring has two “X” chromosomes it will be a ** If the offspring has two “X” chromosomes it will be a femalefemale.. ** If the offspring has one “X” chromosome and one “Y” ** If the offspring has one “X” chromosome and one “Y”

chromosome it will be a chromosome it will be a malemale..

XX chromosome - female XY chromosome - male

In Humans the “Sex Chromosomes” are

the 23rd set

Sex ChromosomesSex Chromosomes

“Sex Chromosomes” …….the 23rd set

23

This person has 2 “X” chromosomes…

and is a female.

Meiosis is the process by which is the process by which ”gametes” (sex cells) , ”gametes” (sex cells) , with halfhalf

the number of chromosomes,chromosomes, are produced.

During Meiosis diploid cells are reduced to haploid cells

Diploid (2n) Diploid (2n) Haploid (n)Haploid (n)

MeiosisMeiosis is Two cell divisionsMeiosis is Two cell divisions

(called meiosis Imeiosis I and meiosis IImeiosis II)

with only one duplication of chromosomes.with only one duplication of chromosomes.

Meiosis in males is called Meiosis in males is called spermatogenesisspermatogenesis and produces sperm. and produces sperm.

Meiosis in females is called Meiosis in females is called oogenesisoogenesis and produces ova.and produces ova.

SpermatogenesisSpermatogenesis

2n=46

humansex cell

diploid (2n)

n=23

n=23

meiosis I

n=23

n=23

n=23

n=23

sperm

haploid (n)

meiosis II

4 sperm cells are produced from each

primary spermatocyte.

Primary Spermatocyte

Secondary Spermatocyte

Secondary Spermatocyte

Oogenesis

*** The polar bodies die… only one ovum (egg) is produced from each primary oocyte.

Prophase IProphase I - - SynapsisSynapsis

Homologous chromosomes

sister chromatids sister chromatidsTetrad

During Prophase I During Prophase I “Crossing Over” occurs.“Crossing Over” occurs.

• During Crossing overDuring Crossing over segments of nonsister chromatidschromatids break and reattach to the other chromatidchromatid. The Chiasmata Chiasmata

(chiasma) (chiasma) are the sites of crossing overcrossing over.

Crossing Over is one of the Two major occurrences of Meiosis

(The other is Non-disjunction)

Crossing OverCrossing Over creates variation (diversity) in the offspring’s traits.creates variation (diversity) in the offspring’s traits.

nonsister chromatids

chiasmata: site of crossing over

variation

Tetrad

Question:Question:

• A cell containing 20 chromosomes20 chromosomes (diploid)(diploid) at the beginning of meiosis would, at its

completion, produce cells containing how many chromosomeschromosomes?

Answer:Answer:• 10 chromosomes (haploid)10 chromosomes (haploid)

Question:Question:

• A cell containing 40 chromatids40 chromatids at the beginning of meiosis would, at its completion,

produce cells containing how many chromosomeschromosomes?

Answer:Answer:• 10 chromosomes10 chromosomes

Prophase IProphase I

centriolesspindle fiber

asterfibers

Metaphase IMetaphase I• Shortest phaseShortest phase

• TetradsTetrads align on the metaphase platemetaphase plate.

• INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT OCCURS:INDEPENDENT ASSORTMENT OCCURS:1. Orientation of homologous pair to poles is random.2. Variation3. Formula: 2n

Example:Example: 2n = 42n = 4then then n = 2 n = 2 thusthus 2 22 2 = 4 combinations= 4 combinations

Metaphase IMetaphase I

metaphase plate

OR

metaphase plate

Anaphase IAnaphase I• Homologous chromosomesHomologous chromosomes separate and

move towards the poles.

• Sister chromatids Sister chromatids remain attached at their centromerescentromeres.

Anaphase IAnaphase I

Telophase ITelophase I

• Each pole now has haploidhaploid set of chromosomeschromosomes.

• CytokinesisCytokinesis occurs and two haploid daughter cells are formed.

Telophase ITelophase I

Meiosis IIMeiosis II• No interphase II No interphase II

(or very short - no more DNA replicationDNA replication)

• Remember:Remember: Meiosis IIMeiosis II is similar to mitosismitosis

Prophase IIProphase II• same as prophaseprophase in mitosismitosis

Metaphase IIMetaphase II• same as metaphasemetaphase in mitosismitosis

metaphase platemetaphase plate

Anaphase IIAnaphase II• same as anaphaseanaphase in mitosismitosis• sister chromatids separatesister chromatids separate

Telophase IITelophase II

• Same as telophasetelophase in mitosismitosis.

• Nuclei form.

• CytokinesisCytokinesis occurs.

• Remember:Remember: four haploid daughter cells four haploid daughter cells produced.produced.

gametes = sperm or egggametes = sperm or egg

Telophase IITelophase II

Non-disjunction

• Non-disjunction is the failure of homologous chromosomes, or sister chromatids, to

separate during meiosis.• Non-disjunction results with the production

of zygotes with abnormal chromosome numbers…… remember…. An abnormal

chromosome number (abnormal amount of DNA) is damaging to the offspring.

Non-disjunction is one of the Two major occurrences of Meiosis

(The other is Crossing Over)

Non-disjunctions usually occur in one of two fashions.

• The first is called Monosomy, the second is called Trisomy. If an organism has

Trisomy 18 it has three chromosomes in the 18th set, Trisomy 21…. Three chromosomes in the 21st set. If an

organism has Monosomy 23 it has only one chromosome in the 23rd set.

Common Non-disjunction Disorders

• Down’s Syndrome – Trisomy 21• Turner’s Syndrome – Monosomy 23 (X)• Kleinfelter’s Syndrome – Trisomy 23 (XXY)• Edward’s Syndrome – Trisomy 18

Amniocentesis• An Amniocentesis is a procedure a pregnant woman can have in order to

detect some genetics disorders…..such as non-disjunction.

Amniocentesis

Amniotic fluid withdrawn

Karyotype(picture of an individual’s chromosomes)

One of the ways to analyze the

amniocentesis is to make a Karyotype

What genetic disorder does this karyotype show?

Trisomy 21….Down’s Syndrome

Question.

• If a wild turkey has 82 chromosomes in it snood cells, how many chromosomes are in its gamete cells.

• If a red fox has 17 chromosomes in it’s egg cell how many chromosomes are in a fox zygote.

• If an the root cell of an onion has 16 chromosomes, how many chromosome are found in an onion cell at the end of mitosis.