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Mitosis and Meiosis
What is Mitosis?
Mitosis produces two daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell. If the parent cell is haploid (N), then the daughter cells will be haploid. If the parent cell is diploid, the daughter cells will also be diploid.
N ® N
2N ® 2N
This type of cell division allows multicellular organisms to grow and repair damaged tissue.
Summary of the Phases of Mitosis
The drawings below show chromosome movement and alignment in a cell from a species of animal that has a diploid number of 8. As you view the drawings, keep in mind that humans have a diploid number of 46.
Interphase Chromosomes are not visible because they are uncoiled
Prophase The chromosomes coil.
The nuclear membrane disintegrates.
Spindle fibers (microtubles) form.
The drawing shows a cell with 8 chromosomes. Each chromosome has 2 chromatids for a total of 16 chromatids.
Metaphase The chromosomes become aligned.
The drawing shows a cell with 8 chromosomes. Each chromosome has 2 chromatids for a total of 16 chromatids.
Anaphase The chromatids separate; the number of chromosomes doubles.
The drawing shows a cell with 16 chromosomes. Each chromosome has 1 chromatid for a total of 16 chromatids.
Telophase The cell divides into two.
The chromosomes uncoil.
The nucleus reforms.
The spindle apparataus disassembles.
The drawing shows a cell with 16 chromosomes. Each chromosome has 1 chromatid for a total of 16 chromatids.
G1 Interphase The chromosomes have one chromatid.
The drawing shows two cells. Each cell has 8 chromosomes. Each chromosome has 1 chromatid for a total of 8 chromatids per cell.
G2 Interphase The chromosomes have two chromatids each.
The drawing shows two cells. Each cell has 8 chromosomes. Each chromosome has 2 chromatids for a total of 16 chromatids per cell.
What is Meiosis?
Meiosis produces daughter cells that have one half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
2N ® N
Meiosis enables organisms to reproduce sexually. Gametes (sperm and eggs) are haploid.
Meiosis involves two divisions producing a total of four daughter cells.
Summary of the Phases of Meiosis
A cell undergoing meiosis will divide two times; the first division is meiosis 1 and the second is meiosis 2. The phases have the same names as those of mitosis. A number indicates the division number (1st or 2nd):
meiosis 1: prophase 1, metaphase 1, anaphase 1, and telophase 1
meiosis 2: prophase 2, metaphase 2, anaphase 2, and telophase 2
In the first meiotic division, the number of cells is doubled but the number of chromosomes is not. This results in 1/2 as many chromosomes per cell.
The second meiotic division is like mitosis; the number of chromosomes does not get reduced.
Prophase I Homologous chromosomes become paired.
Crossing-over occurs between homologous chromosomes.
Crossing over 
Metaphase I Homologous pairs become aligned in the center of the cell.
The random alignment pattern is called independent assortment. For example, a cell with 2N = 6 chromosomes could have any of the alignment patterns shown at the left.. 
Anaphase I Homologous chromosomes separate.
Telophase I This stage is absent in some species
Interkinesis Interkinesis is similar to interphase except DNA synthesis does not occur.
Prophase II 
Metaphase II 
Anaphase II 
Telophase II Daughter Cells
Laboratory Exercise for Campus Students
Mitosis in Animals
Human Chromosomes
1. View a slide of human chromosomes and draw some of the chromosomes below.
2. Do the chromosomes have one chromatid or two?
Below: Human Chromosomes Click on the photograph to view an enlargement.
Whitefish Blastula
3. The cells of a developing embryo are dividing rapidly and can be used for viewing the different stages of mitosis. Obtain a whitefish blastula (early embryo) slide and find a cell in each of these phases: interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
4. Draw a cell in anaphase below.
Below: Whitefish blastula mitosis X 400. Click on the images to view enlargements.
Additional Photographs of mitosis in animals: Ascaris Megalocephala Mitosis
Meiosis in Animals (Gametogenesis)
Testis
1. Obtain a slide of a cross section of rat testes and observe the seminiferous tubules. Identify spermatogonia. Identify sperm.
Below: Rat testes X 100. Click on the image to view an enlargement.
Ovary
The primary oocyte is contained within a structure called a follicle. As the follicle enlarges, it produces hormones. During ovulation, the follicle ruptures and releases the secondary oocyte.
2. View a slide of a section of a rabbit ovary under scanning magnification and observe follicles in various stages of development. Can you see an oocyte in any of the follicles?
Below: Rabbit ovary X 40. Click on the image to view an enlargement.
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