What is Meiosis?

By Jack Loren September 23, 2023

Meiotic Division

[{"selector":"#anim-f28e4f36-169a-44e1-be5e-efb4e6271fe3 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cf75f8b1-9a2b-466a-9f5f-d649dea71554","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b63c916f-7417-44a3-a2d4-5bdb2b218d1f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.38462%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The reduction divisions occur only in the reproductive cells at the time of gamete formation.

[{"selector":"#anim-2549d449-abed-4ba7-9da2-a0ee69e9e6dc [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(25%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9753d1c1-f6fd-44bd-9cd0-4ea0708786ca","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-78f9f747-3e41-4834-b804-099905b3135e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.38462%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] By this process, four daughter cells are formed from the single parental cell and

[{"selector":"#anim-7caadb01-13aa-4d15-87f8-735aaf32aa80 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.913809475238196%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-9bb892b4-87a2-456b-bd32-c39dabfc8d97","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f4611528-205f-4185-9c99-07750273fc91","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.38462%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] the chromosome number in them (the daughter cells or gametes) is reduced to half (haploid).

[{"selector":"#anim-2cb514d4-4f71-4d4b-91b2-d056d55ed74c [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(22.614020591244557%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-23710bd4-46b3-40d7-942b-257d351a9e25","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-34f695e6-ccc2-4118-a2d3-79dda23faab8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.66667%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The entire process of meiosis is separated into a sequence of steps similar to those of mitosis , but these stages are repeated twice.

Heterotypic Division (First Meiotic Division) or Reduction Division –

[{"selector":"#anim-a809d8bd-27ec-47bd-9b47-3168a010e616 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-16.778523489932883%, 5.717457361278916%) scale(1.3355704697986577)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b24b98d0-992b-45f3-9a00-440931d2be7a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-081b7f50-7fbb-4db7-9999-8d3dc9ac5465","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.38462%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

[{"selector":"#anim-d6893466-2e62-4db5-b3c7-8f16d0c5b1b7 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-5.083476087604389%, 0.18967427278452825%) scale(1.3968253968253967)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-62e986d5-6363-4bf7-a721-fcacc817a796","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-233da70d-4644-464c-aeed-a82d7aee8007","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.38462%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] 1. First prophase - The prophase of first division is longer and profoundly modified. It is divided into following fives stages–leptotenne, zygoene, pachytene, diplotene and diakinesis.

[{"selector":"#anim-adf20504-0f3f-4fa8-bedf-6738722291c5 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(-24.915540055921532%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0e3fd253-0e41-4611-81fa-7815b8602d52","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-128bb056-93cb-4f5d-8cef-61e09521aebc","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.38462%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Leptotene or leptonema stage – The leptotene stage initiates meiosis.

[{"selector":"#anim-ee53c332-fcfa-4ebd-ae7e-09697b0344c6 [data-leaf-element=\"true\"]","keyframes":{"transform":["translate(0%, 0%) scale(1.5)","translate(0%, 0%) scale(1)"]},"delay":0,"duration":2000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(.3,0,.55,1)","fill":"forwards"}] [{"selector":"#anim-520fd0a3-d307-4ef3-ada4-a83f4e62ede8","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-02b4ac2d-ef7a-4f60-ad74-f3722f217083","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-116.66667%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] The meiotic cell or meiotic is comparatively large and possesses a large nucleus. Learn more