What are the steps involved in meiosis?
1 Answer
In meiosis I there is prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I, and telophase I and then in meiosis II there is prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, and telophase II.
Explanation:
- In meiosis I we have;
Prophase I in which a pair of homologous chromosomes line up and form a tetrad. This is the stage during which genetic recombination occurs.
Metaphase I occurs, during which the homologous chromosomes line up opposite each other at the metaphase plate. The chromosomes orientate themselves randomly, thus homologous chromosomes are distributed randomly to daughter cells .
In Anaphase I, homologous chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cells but sister chromatids remain together. Each cell now has 23 chromosomes.
Telophase I in which the homologous chromosomes move to the poles and cytokinesis occurs. Two daughter cells are formed.
- In meiosis II we have;
Prophase II (note: there is no interphase as seen in mitosis) during which chromosomes start to move to the metaphase II plate. There is no replication.
Next is metaphase II when the chromosomes align at the metaphase II plate.
In anaphase II the sister chromatids separate from each other and move towards opposite poles.
Lastly, in telophase II cytokinesis occurs again and four daughter cells are produced. Each of the four daughter cells has 23 chromosomes.
