Topic > The Process of Mitosis and Meiosis

Meiosis is a process in which a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information. These cells are our sex cells: sperm in males, eggs in females. During the process of meiosis a cell divides twice to form four daughter cells. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original EssayThese four daughter cells have only half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell which are called haploid. Meiosis produces our sex cells or gametes which are (eggs in females and sperm in males). Meiosis can be divided into nine phases. These are divided between the first time the cell divides (meiosis I) and the second time it divides (meiosis II): Meiosis IInterphase: First, the DNA in the cell is copied resulting in two identical complete sets of chromosomes. Then. Outside the nucleus there are two centrosomes each containing a pair of centrioles, these structures are fundamental for the process of cell division. During the interphase process, microtubules extend from these centrosomes.Prophase I: The copied chromosomes shorten into X-shaped structures that can be easily seen under a microscope. So every other chromosome is composed of two sister chromatids having identical genetic information. Chromosomes pair in such a way that both copies of chromosome one are together, both copies of chromosome two are also together. Pairs of chromosomes can then exchange small pieces of DNA in a process called recombination or crossover. At the end of the first phase, the membrane around the cell's nucleus dissolves, freeing the chromosomes. The meiotic spindle, made up of microtubules and other proteins, extends through the cell between the centrioles.Metaphase I: Pairs of chromosomes align next to each other along the center which is the equator of the cell. The centrioles are now at opposite poles of the cell and the meiotic spindles grow from them. Then the meiotic spindle fibers attach to one chromosome of each pair. Anaphase I: Then the pair of chromosomes is separated by the meiotic spindle, which attracts one chromosome to one pole of the cell and the other chromosome to the opposite pole. In meiosis one, the sister chromatids stay together, which is different from what happens in mitosis and meiosis II. Telophase I and cytokinesis: The chromosomes finish their movement towards the opposite poles of the cell. A complete set of chromosomes gathers at each pole of the cell. A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to create two new nuclei. Then the single cell pinches itself in the center to form two separate daughter cells in which each contains a complete set of chromosomes within a nucleus. This process is known as cytokinesis.Meiosis IIProphase II: At this point there are two daughter cells with 23 chromosomes each (23 pairs of chromatids). In every two daughter cells, the chromosomes condense again into visible X-shaped structures that are easily seen under a microscope. The membrane around the nucleus of each daughter cell dissolves, releasing the chromosomes. Then the centrioles duplicate and the meiotic spindle forms again. Metaphase II: In each of the two daughter cells the chromosomes (a pair of sister chromatids) align along the equator of the cell. Now the centrioles are located at opposite poles in each of the daughter cells. Meiotic spindle fibers at each pole of the cell attach to each of the sister chromatids. Anaphase II: The sister chromatids are then pulled towards opposite poles due to the action of the meiotic spindle. The separated chromatids then become individual chromosomes. Telophase II eCytokinesis: Eventually the chromosomes complete their movement towards opposite poles of the cell. A complete set of chromosomes gathers at each pole of the cell. A membrane forms around each set of chromosomes to form two new cell nuclei. This is the last phase of meiosis, however, cell division is not yet complete without another round of cytokinesis. Once cytokinesis is completed, four grandson cells are formed, each with half a set of chromosomes (haploid): in males these four cells are all spermatozoa, in females one of the cells is an egg while the other three are polar bodies which are (small which do not develop into eggs).Mitosis: Mitosis is the process in which the nucleus of a eukaryotic cell separates into two, followed by the division of the mother cell into two daughter cells. The word “mitosis” means “threads” and refers to the thread-like appearance of the chromosomes as the cell prepares to separate. These tubules, collectively known as the spindle, expand from structures called centrosomes, with a centrosome located at each of the opposite ends, or poles, of a cell. As mitosis begins to progress, the microtubules join the chromosomes, which have already duplicated their DNA and joined through the center of the cell. The spindle tubules then contract and move toward the poles of the cell. As they move, they drag a copy of each chromosome with them toward opposite poles of the cell. This process ensures that each daughter cell will contain an exact copy of the parent cell's DNA. Mitosis is composed of five morphologically distinct phases: prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Each of these phases involves characteristic steps in the process of chromosome alignment and separation. Once mitosis is completed, the entire cell divides into two through the process called Prophase cytokinesis which is the first stage of mitosis, occurring after the conclusion of the G2 portion of interphase. During prophase, the mother cell's chromosomes, which were duplicated during S phase, condense and become thousands of times more compact than they were during interphase. Because each duplicated chromosome is made up of two identical sister chromatids joined at a point called the centromere, these structures now appear as X-shaped bodies when viewed under a microscope. Several DNA-binding proteins catalyze the condensation process, including cohesin and condensin. Cohesin forms rings that hold sister chromatids together, while condensin forms rings that wrap chromosomes into highly compact shapes. Furthermore, the mitotic spindle begins to develop during prophase. As the cell's two centrosomes move against opposite poles, microtubules gradually assemble together, forming the network that will later separate the duplicated chromosomes. After prophase is complete, the cell enters prometaphase which is the second stage of mitosis. During prometaphase, phosphorylation of nuclear lamins by M-CDK causes the nuclear membrane to rupture into numerous small vesicles. Therefore the spindle microtubules now have direct access to the cell's genetic material. Each microtubule is highly dynamic, growing outward from the centrosome and falling backwards as it tries to locate a chromosome. Eventually, microtubules find their targets and connect to each chromosome via its kinetochore, a protein complex located at the centromere. The actual number of microtubules that connect to a kinetochore varies from species to species, but at least one microtubule from each pole connects to the kinetochore of each chromosome. A tug of war then ensues as the chromosomes move back and forth between the two poles. When the prometaphase ends e.