EXERCISE 3
MEIOSIS AND GENETIC VARIATION
INTRODUCTION
Most cells reproduce to form identical copies, or daughter cells, for the purpose of growth or repair. This
process is called mitosis. However, parental gametes – the sperm and egg cells (sex cells) – are unique from all other
cells in that they reproduce through a process called meiosis. Hence, meiosis creates gametes (egg and sperm cells).
The purpose of meiosis is to shuffle genetic information and cut the cellular chromosome number in half,
from 46 chromosomes to 23 chromosomes. In this way, when an egg and sperm cell combine during fertilization,
the resulting embryo will inherit the appropriate amount of unique genetic information from each parent. If sperm
and egg cells were to divide and keep the same number of chromosomes that other cells do, then the resulting
embryo would have twice the normal number of chromosomes. For example, if a human egg and sperm each
contained 46 chromosomes, then the resulting embryo would contain 92 chromosomes– a chromosome number
not compatible with normal development or survival.
During meiosis, genetic information is exchanged between the maternally and paternally inherited copies
of a pair of chromosomes in order to create new combinations of genes. This process of genetic recombination helps
to increase genetic variability within a species. It allows for the transmission of virtually limitless combinations of
genes from parent to offspring. The resulting gametes produced during meiosis will have 23 new chromosomes, one
member of each of the 23 pairs, representing unique combinations of the original maternal and paternal copies.
Homologous chromosomes, or homologs, consist of the members of any given chromosome pair. One member of
the homolog is the chromosome from the mother and the other member is from the father. During meiosis,
homologs pair together in the process called synapsis.
The process of meiosis involves two divisions of the genetic material. The first division is called the
reduction division – or meiosis I – because it reduces the number of chromosomes from 46 chromosomes or 2n to
23 chromosomes or n (n describes a single chromosome set). In humans, the reduction division results in two sperm
cells each with 23 chromosomes or an egg cell with 23 chromosomes and one discarded polar body. The second
division – or meiosis II – is called equational division, just like mitosis, because it does not reduce chromosome
number in the daughter cells — rather, the daughter cells that result from meiosis II have the same number of
chromosomes as the "parent" cells that enter meiosis II. In contrast to a mitotic division, which yields two identical
diploid daughter cells, the end result of meiosis is haploid daughter cells with chromosomal combinations different
from those originally present in the parent.
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Apart from this reduction in chromosome number, meiosis differs from mitosis in yet another way.
Specifically, meiosis creates new combinations of genetic material in each of the four daughter cells. These new
combinations result from the exchange of DNA between paired chromosomes. Such exchange means that the
gametes produced through meiosis exhibit an amazing range of genetic variation. Genetic variation is created in
meiosis by two important mechanisms, namely independent assortment of gametes and genetic recombination via
crossing over.
In animals and plants, the cells produced by meiosis need to mature before they become functional
gametes. In male animals the four products of meiosis are called spermatids. They grow tails and become functional
sperm cells. In female animals the gametes are eggs. In order that each egg contains the maximum amount of
nutrients only one of the four products of meiosis becomes an egg. The other three cells end up as tiny disposable
cells called polar bodies. In plants the products of meiosis reproduce a few times using mitosis as they develop into
functional male or female gametes.
OBJECTIVES
After completing the exercise, the students will be able to:
1. Identify the phases of meiosis I and meiosis II,
2. Recognize the differences in meiosis and mitosis,
3. Describe the processes involved in genetic variation during meiosis,
MATERIALS
• Art papers (red and green, blue and pink)
• Scissors
PROCEDURE:
This laboratory will require as to do “simulated” meiosis. You will need art papers in 2 colors: red and green; blue
and pink, etc. Each color of paper will represent one chromosome. You will only need to do 1 homologous
chromosome for this project.
1. Cut and shape your colored paper into a chromosome of your choice. Ex. Human chromosome 1, 2, 5 etc.
2. Make 20+ exact copies of each chromosome.
3. Use your cut-outs to create the stages of meiosis and paste them on the space provided.
4. Your grade will depend on correctness, neatness and appearance of your creation.
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WORKSHEET NO. 3
MEIOSIS AND GENETIC VARIATION
Name: ______________________________________________ Date: ________________ Score: ______________
A. Draw the dividing cells in the designated circles and place your cutout chromosomes inside the cells. Show
the events that happen to the chromosomes / chromatids during the individual stages of meiosis.
Prophase I: Pairing (synapsis) Prophase I: Crossing-over
Pre-metaphase I Metaphase I
Anaphase I Telophase 1
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Cytokinesis 1 Prophase II
Metaphase II Anaphase II
Telophase II Cytokinesis II
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POST-LABORATORY QUESTIONS
1. What type of cell is formed during meiosis? _________________________
2. Describe a similarity and a difference between meiosis I and meiosis II.
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3. What is the total number of chromosomes present in the human cell before meiosis? _________________________
4. At the end of meiosis I, I how many cells are there? _________________________
How many chromosomes are present in each cell? _________________________
5. How is meiosis I different from mitosis?
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6. At the end of meiosis II, how many cells are there? _________________________
How many chromosomes are present in each cell? _________________________
7. Why is this chromosome number important?
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Check the appropriate event(s) for each of the following statements
Mitosis Meiosis
________ 8. Reproduction in autosome (somatic) cells _________
________ 9. Reproduction in sex (gametic) cells _________
________ 10. Results in haploid number _________
________ 11. Results in diploid number _________
________ 12. One division for completion _________
________ 13. Two divisions for completion _________
________ 14. Produces gametes _________
________ 15. Tetrads form _________
________ 16. DNA Replicates _________
________ 17. Homologous chromosomes line up _________
________ 18. Reduction division _________
________ 19. Final product is identical daughter cells _________
________ 20. Formation of synapsis _________
21. What is crossing over? When does it occur during meiosis?
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22. How does crossing over contribute to genetic variation?
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23. What is independent assortment? When does it occur during meiosis?
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24. How does independent assortment contribute to genetic variation?
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25. How does non-disjunction of chromosome during meiosis lead to numerical chromosomal aberrations?
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