How do you make a cell with half the DNA?
Meiosis. This allows cells to have half the number of chromosomes, so two of these cells can come back together to form a new organism with the complete number of chromosomes. This process not only helps produce gametes, it also ensures genetic variation.
Meiosis
The process that produces haploid gametes is meiosis. Meiosis is a type of cell division in which the number of chromosomes is reduced by half. It occurs only in certain special cells of the organisms. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate, and haploid cells form that have only one chromosome from each pair. Two cell divisions occur during meiosis, and a total of four haploid cells are produced. The two cell divisions are called meiosis I and meiosis II. The overall process of meiosis is summarized in the figure below.
Overview of Meiosis. During meiosis, homologous chromosomes separate and go to different daughter cells. This diagram shows just the nuclei of the cells. Notice the exchange of genetic material that occurs prior to the first cell division.
Phases of Meiosis
Meiosis I begins after DNA replicates during interphase of the cell cycle. In both meiosis I and meiosis II, cells go through the same four phases as mitosis – prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. However, there are important differences between meiosis I and mitosis. The flowchart in the figure below shows what happens in both meiosis I and II.
Phases of Meiosis. This flowchart of meiosis shows meiosis I in greater detail than meiosis II. Meiosis I—but not meiosis II—differs somewhat from mitosis. Compare meiosis I in this flowchart with the earlier figure featuring mitosis. How does meiosis I differ from mitosis?
Compare meiosis I in this flowchart with the figure from the Mitosis and Cytokinesis concept. How does meiosis I differ from mitosis? Notice at the beginning of meiosis (prophase I), homologous chromosomes exchange segments of DNA. This is known as crossing-over, and is unique to this phase of meiosis.
Meiosis I
- Prophase I: The nuclear envelope begins to break down, and the chromosomes condense. Centrioles start moving to opposite poles of the cell, and a spindle begins to form. Importantly, homologous chromosomes pair up, which is unique to prophase I. In prophase of mitosis and meiosis II, homologous chromosomes do not form pairs in this way. Crossing-over occurs during this phase (see the Genetic Variation concept).
- Metaphase I: Spindle fibers attach to the paired homologous chromosomes. The paired chromosomes line up along the equator (middle) of the cell. This occurs only in metaphase I. In metaphase of mitosis and meiosis II, it is sister chromatids that line up along the equator of the cell.
- Anaphase I: Spindle fibers shorten, and the chromosomes of each homologous pair start to separate from each other. One chromosome of each pair moves toward one pole of the cell, and the other chromosome moves toward the opposite pole.
- Telophase I and Cytokinesis: The spindle breaks down, and new nuclear membranes form. The cytoplasm of the cell divides, and two haploid daughter cells result. The daughter cells each have a random assortment of chromosomes, with one from each homologous pair. Both daughter cells go on to meiosis II. The DNA does not replicate between meiosis I and meiosis II.
Meiosis II
- Prophase II: The nuclear envelope breaks down and the spindle begins to form in each haploid daughter cell from meiosis I. The centrioles also start to separate.
- Metaphase II: Spindle fibers line up the sister chromatids of each chromosome along the equator of the cell.
- Anaphase II: Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles.
- Telophase II and Cytokinesis: The spindle breaks down, and new nuclear membranes form. The cytoplasm of each cell divides, and four haploid cells result. Each cell has a unique combination of chromosomes.
Summary
- Meiosis is the type of cell division that produces gametes.
- Meiosis involves two cell divisions and produces four haploid cells.
- Sexual reproduction has the potential to produce tremendous genetic variation in offspring. This is due in part to crossing-over during meiosis.