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Steps of Meiosis

prophase I - DNA coils and becomes visible under light microscopes 

  • sister chromatid cohesion - pairing of homologous pairs side by side
    • guided by heterochromatin sequences
    • homologues attach to nuclear envelope at specific sites
  • recombination nodules - has enzymes for breaking/joining homologous chromatids
  • crossing over between sister chromatids is suppressed
  • only about 2-3 crossovers per chromosome per meiosis
  • sister chromatids held together at centromeres, homologous chromosomal pairs held together where crossing over took place
  • chiasma - X-shaped structure where crossover took place
    • ensures that the microtubule spindle only attaches to 1 side of centromere
    • indicates that crossing over has taken place

metaphase I - nuclear envelope dissolves 

  • microtubules form spindle like in mitosis
  • terminal chiasmata - state of chiasmata where they reach the ends of the chromosomes
  • kinetochores only connect to centromeres on 1 side
  • chromosome pairs line up on metaphase plate randomly

anaphase I - microtubules begin to shorten 

  • chiasmata gets broken, homologues get pulled apart
  • sister chromatids aren’t split up
  • independent assortment - poles can have mixes of maternal/paternal homologues

telophase I - chromosomes located in clusters at each pole 

  • nuclear membrane reforms around chromosomes, each w/ 2 sister chromatids
  • sister chromatids no longer identical due to crossing over

meiosis II - occurs after a brief interphase after meiosis I 

  • prophase II - nuclear membrane breaks down, microtubule spindle forms
  • metaphase II - spindle fibers bind to both sides of centromeres
  • anaphase II - sister chromatids split, go to opposite poles
  • telophase II - nuclear envelope re-forms
  • meiosis I/II result in 4 distinct cells w/ haploid chromosomal set
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