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LESSON 2: MEIOSIS
Lesson Objective:
• Definition of meiosis
• Site of meiosis in plants and in animals
• The process of Meiosis
Errors/Misconceptions/Problem areas:
• The skill of determining the number of chromosomes before and after meiosis
• Draw the chromosomes incorrectly in terms of number, size and shading
• The events of the different phases of meiosis should be taught using annotated
diagrams to clearly show what happens during each phase. The effects of crossing
over should be followed through the different phases using the shading of
chromosomes.
• Mendel’s experiments translate to the modern-day understanding of his Law of
Segregation: ‘The pair of alleles on homologous chromosomes separate during
meiosis, so that only one allele of each pair is found in each gamete’.
• Random assortment or random segregation or independent assortment instead of
random arrangement of chromosomes.
Key terminology: meiosis, reduction division
Definition of meiosis

• There are two types of cell division that takes place in plants and animals, mitosis and
meiosis.
• Mitosis is a process whereby one cell makes an identical copy of itself and gives rise
to two cells that are genetically identical.
• In contrast, meiosis produces four sex cells that have half the number of
chromosomes of the parent cell, and are genetically different from the parent cell.
• There are two types of cells that are produced in a plant or animal’s body, body cells
(somatic cells) and sex cells (gametes).
• Mitosis deals with the formation of somatic cells, while meiosis deals with the
formation of gametes (gametogenesis).
The purposes of reduction division (meiosis)
• Meiosis is referred to as a reduction division because it halves the number of
chromosomes in the nucleus of a cell.
• Gametes that form by meiosis have half the number of chromosomes found in somatic
cells
• Somatic cells are diploid cells (2n) and gametes are haploid cells (n). Eg. in humans
gametes contain the haploid number of 23 chromosomes. When fertilization takes
place, a sperm cell fuses with an ovum to from a zygote. The diploid number of 46
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chromosomes is restored in the zygote. The zygote then divides by mitosis to

eventually form all the somatic cells, each of which has 46 chromosomes.

• Meiosis ensures that the chromosome number in the body cells of an organism
remains constant from the parents to their offspring and from generation to generation.
Site of meiosis in plants and in animals
• Meiosis is a cell division that usually takes place in the sex cells.
• In plants, meiosis occurs in the anther to produce pollen grain and in the ovary to
produce the ovule
• In humans, meiosis occurs in the testis to produce sperms and in the ovary to produce
an ovum
Process of Meiosis
• Meiosis can be divided into two parts, Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
• In Meiosis I, a single diploid cell forms two haploid cells i.e. the chromosome number
is halved
• In Meiosis II, each of the haploid cells from Meiosis II forms 2 haploid cells, similar in
many respects to mitosis
• Meiosis is a continuous process, but the events are divided into different phases for
convenience
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First meiotic division

Prophase I
• Nuclear membrane and nucleolus start to disappear.
• Centrosome splits and the two centrioles move apart
forming spindle fibres.
• Chromatin network condenses into individual
chromosomes and pairs of homologous
chromosomes lie next to each other forming a
bivalent.
• Inner chromatids from each homologous
chromosomes overlap and touch each other at a
point called the chiasma (plural: chiasmata) in a
process called crossing over
• Chromatid segments break off and are exchanged,
resulting in the exchange of genetic material.
• This process is called crossing over and it brings
about variation.

Metaphase I
• Homologous chromosomes move to the middle of
the cell (the equator).
• The two homologous chromosomes lie on opposite
sides of the equator parallel to each other
• Which chromosome lies on which side of the equator
is totally up to chance.
• This is called random arrangement and brings
about further variation.
• Each chromosome in the pair becomes attached to a
spindle thread by the centromere.
Anaphase I
• One whole chromosome from each pair is pulled to
opposite poles by contraction of the spindle fibres
• This separates the homologous chromosomes – one
to each pole.

Telophase I
• A new nuclear membrane forms around the group of
chromosomes at each pole.
• Nucleolus returns.
• Cytokinesis (division of cytoplasm) splits the mother
cell into two daughter cells.

Important: Each daughter cell now has half the number of

chromosomes and each has a slightly different genetic make-up
due to crossing over.
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Second meiotic division

The second meiotic division takes place in both daughter cells formed during Meiosis I.
Prophase II
• Nuclear membrane and nucleolus
start to disappear.
• Centrosome splits into two
centrioles and a spindle forms.
• Chromosomes are NOT in pairs

Remember: Each chromosome is

made of TWO chromatids
Metaphase II
• Single chromosomes arrange
themselves randomly along the
equator with the centromere in line
with the equatorial plane.
• Which chromatid faces which pole
is totally up to chance.
• Each chromosome becomes
attached to a spindle fibre.
Anaphase II
• The centromere splits and the two
chromatids are pulled to opposite
poles

Telophase II
• A new nuclear membrane forms
around the unreplicated
chromosomes at each pole
• Cytokinesis splits the cell into two
new cells

Important: As Meiosis II took place in TWO cells,

there will now be FOUR daughter cells. These
cells will be haploid and genetically different to
each other.
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Worksheet 2: The process of meiosis

2.1 (a) A chemical used in laboratories prevents spindle fibres from forming in
cells undergoing meiosis. As a result meiosis cannot start on the
completion of interphase.
In an investigation, this chemical was added to cells in the anthers of the
flowers of rice plants. Each cell in the anther has 24 chromosomes.
What is the expected number of chromosomes in each cell at the end of
the investigation?
A 12 replicated chromosomes
B 24 replicated chromosomes
C 24 unreplicated chromosomes
D 48 unreplicated chromosomes

(b) The reason why organisms more closely resemble their parents, than
unrelated individuals of the same species is…
A they inherit one chromosome from one parent and another
chromosome from the other parent.
B that both parents endow their offspring with genes that
program specific traits that emerge as they develop into
adults.
C that the offspring inherit all their parents’ genetic material.
D is that one set of each of the parents’ gonosomes are inherited by
the children.

(c) What is the correct label for structure S in the diagram below?

A Homologous chromosomes
B Sex chromosomes
C Homologous chromatids
D Sister chromatids
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(d) In which phase of meiosis do chromosomes arrange themselves singly at

the equator?
A Metaphase I
B Anaphase I
C Metaphase II
D Anaphase II

QUESTIONS (e) AND (f) ARE BASED ON THE DIAGRAM BELOW SHOWING FOUR
DIFFERENT PHASES DURING MEIOSIS.

(e) Which ONE of the following represents a centromere and a chromosome

in that order?
A W and Y
B W and X
C Z and Y
D Z and X

(f) Which ONE of the following shows the correct sequence in which the
phases occur?
A 1, 4, 3, 2
B 2, 3, 4, 1
C 3, 1, 2, 4
D 4, 1, 2, 3
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(g) Which type of cell division and phase are illustrated in the following
diagram?

A Metaphase I of meiosis
B Metaphase II of mitosis
C Metaphase II of meiosis
D Metaphase of mitosis II

2.2 Give the correct biological term for each of the following descriptions.
(a) The point at which the crossing-over of chromosomes occur during
meiosis ____________________________________________________
(b) Structure that produces pollen grains through the process of
meiosis in angiosperm plants ___________________________________
(c) Phase of meiosis in which chromosomes are arranged singly at the
equator ____________________________________________________
2.3 The diagrams below represent various phases of meiosis.

(a) Identify the phase of meiosis in diagram:

(i) A – __________________________________________________
(ii) B – __________________________________________________
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(b) Draw a labelled diagram to show the cells that will be formed at the end of
meiosis from the cell in diagram C.

2.3 The diagrams below represent different phases of meiosis.

(a) Identify part:

A – ________________________________________________________
B – ________________________________________________________
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C - ________________________________________________________
(b) Give the NUMBER and NAME of the phase which shows the following:
(i) Random arrangement of chromosomes at the equator –
_____________________________________________________
(ii) Crossing over - _________________________________________
(c) How many chromosomes will be found in the cells at the end of meiosis
shown in the diagrams - _______________________________________
2.4 The diagrams below represent different phases of meiosis in an organism.

(a) Identify:
(i) A - ___________________________________________________
(ii) B - ___________________________________________________
(iii) C - ___________________________________________________
(b) Identify the phase represented in DIAGRAM 3. - ____________________
(c) Write down the numbers of the diagrams to show the sequence in which
the phases occur. - ___________________________________________
(d) State ONE difference between metaphase I and metaphase II.
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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2.5 The diagram below shows a phase in meiosis.

(a) State which phase of meiosis is represented in the diagram. ___________

(b) Give an observable reason for your answer to Question (a)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________

(c) Name part A. - _______________________________________________

(d) How many chromosomes …
(i) were present in the parent cell before it underwent meiosis? _____
(ii) will be present in each cell at the end of meiosis? ______________
(e) Explain why the homologous chromosomes in have a
mixture of genetic material from each chromosome
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
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2.6 The diagram below shows an animal cell undergoing meiosis.

(a) State the number of chromosomes in cell …

(i) A - __________________________________________________
(ii) B - __________________________________________________

(b) Where in a mammal could the cell possibly be found?

___________________________________________________________
(c) Draw a diagram showing the chromosomes that could be found in the cell
labelled C.
Distinguish the different chromosomes by shading and size, as given in
the diagram.
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2.7 The diagram below represents a phase during meiosis in an animal cell.

(a) Identify the phase represented in the diagram. _____________________

(b) Name the process that led to the chromosomes having different shadings.
___________________________________________________________
(c) Identify part:
(i) A - ___________________________________________________
(ii) B - ___________________________________________________
(iii) C - ___________________________________________________
(iv) D - ___________________________________________________
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2.8 Study the diagram of a phase during meiosis below.

(a) Identify the phase in the diagram above. __________________________

(b) Give TWO visible reasons for your answer to QUESTION (b)
___________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________
(c) How many chromosomes:
(i) Are present in EACH cell in the diagram _______________________
(ii) Were present in the original cell at the start of meiosis ___________
(d) The cells in the diagram are NOT identical.
(i) Name TWO processes during meiosis that lead to the cells being
different from one another. ________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
(ii) Explain the significance to a species of the cells being different
from one another. _______________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________