Glossary
Anaphase I: phase of Meiosis I where the spindles pull one homologue from each pair to opposite poles or sides of the cell.
Anaphase II: phase of Meiosis II when the recombined sister chromatids are pulled apart in both cells (looks like each X is being split in half).
Centrioles: have a role in pulling the duplicated chromosomes to opposite ends of the dividing cell
Crossover: exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids resulting in chromosomes that incorporate genes from both parents of the organism
Gametes: specialized cell line that produces germ cells, such as eggs or sperm
Homologous Chromosomes: matched pairs containing the same genes (from both parents) in identical locations along their length.
Meiosis: a nuclear division process that results in four haploid cells
Meiosis I: first round of meiotic cell division; referred to as reduction division because the ploidy level is reduced from diploid to haploid
Meiosis II: second round of meiotic cell division following meiosis I; sister chromatids are separated into individual chromosomes, and the result is four unique haploid cells
Metaphase I: during this phase of Meiosis I, homologous pairs line up at the center line of the cell. The spindles, which are now completely spread across the cell, bind to each chromosome at its kinetochore.
Metaphase II: phase of Meiosis II when the sister chromatids line up across the middle of the cell, and the spindles attach at the kinetochores
Prophase I: phase of Meiosis I when the walls of the nucleus begin to break down, homologous chromosomes join together, and, chromosomes crossover and exchange segments.
Prophase II: phase of Meiosis II when the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the spindles form anchoring themselves at the centriole.
Spindles: hollow structural tubes that assist in chromosome crossover
Telophase I: phase of Meiosis I when a nuclear membrane forms around each set of sister chromatids, marking the completion of the first nuclear division. Consequently, the two new cells undergo cytokinesis, a process by which the cytoplasm is divided between the daughter cells.
Telophase II: phase of Meiosis II when the nuclear membrane reforms around each set of genetic material. The cells then undergo cytokinesis, forming four daughter cells in total.
Grant and Other Information
Except where otherwise noted, this work by The Community College Consortium for Bioscience Credentials is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.
Text from BioBook licensed under CC BY NC SA and Boundless Biology Open Textbook licensed under CC BY SA. Modified by Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D. for c3bc.
Instructional design by Nicole Lipscomb, M.S., Helen Dollyhite, M.A., Caroline Smith, M.A.T., Irene Yee Chief, Ph.D. and Courtney A. Harrington, Ph.D. for c3bc.
Subject Matter Expert: Tiffany Davis and Alice Rudolph, M.A. for c3bc.
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