General Biology 1
Performance Task 6:
Meiosis Activity
Objectives for this activity
(a) The student will understand the meiosis occurs only in
the sex cells and involves two divisions, as compared to
one division in mitosis.
(b) The student will know the stages of meiosis and
understand what is occurring in each step.
(c) The student will understand the purpose of
chromosomes in the process of meiosis.
(d) The student will understand that meiosis is essential for
the process of reproduction.
Procedure: Interphase
In Interphase, the cell go through three
phases, G1, S, and G2.
• G1 phase is when the cell starts to become
bigger by increasing its number of
organelles.
• After G1, S phase occurs and this is when
the cell starts replicating its genetic
material, the DNA.
• G2 is the last phase of interphase where the
cell continues its growth and hits a
checkpoint before continuing to cell division.
• Looking at the left-side figure, the (gamete)
cell is depicted by THREE components.
• The two pairs of gummy worms depict the sister chromatids.
• The toothpicks and M&M holding the pairs of gummy worms
depict the centromere.
• The candy string surrounding the sister chromatids depicts
Figure 1. Various materials depicting the cell in interphase the nuclear envelope.
• Lastly, the paper towel is used to depict the cytoplasm.
Procedure: Prophase 1
In Prophase 1, the sister chromatids
would pair together and would start
exchanging or swapping genetic materials of
the two sister chromatids, this process is called
“Crossing Over”.
Additionally, the two pairs after the
process of crossing over will have genetic
variation and will now be referred to as
Recombinant Chromosomes
• Looking at the left-side figure, the (gamete)
cell is depicted by FOUR components.
• The two pairs of gummy worms depict the sister chromatids.
Notice that the top of the two pairs were swapped with each
other.
• The toothpicks and M&M holding the pairs of gummy worms
depict the centromere.
• The candy string surrounding the sister chromatids depicts
the nuclear envelope.
• The paper towel is used to depict the cytoplasm.
Figure 2. Depiction of a cell undergoing prophase 1 • Additional candy strings were used to depict the forming
centrioles and spindle fibers at the opposite cells of the cell.
Procedure: Metaphase 1
In Metaphase 1, the new recombinant
chromosomes will start lining up along an area
called metaphase plate. The spindle fibers that
formed will then connect to the kinetochore on
the centromeres of the two chromosomes. This
will then lead to Anaphase 1.
Looking at the left-side figure, the
spindle fibers (candy string) are now attached
to the kinetochore on the centromere
(toothpick and M&M) of each chromosome.
Figure 3. Depiction of a cell undergoing metaphase 1
Procedure: Anaphase 1
In Anaphase 1, the two chromosomes
will then be separated and moved to the
opposite sides of the cell, where the centrioles
are. The centrioles and spindle fibers will start
disintegrating and new nuclear envelope form.
Looking at the left-side figure, the two
chromosomes are now moved to the sides, just
aside the centrioles and spindle fibers.
Figure 4.1. Depiction of a cell undergoing anaphase 1
Procedure: Anaphase 1
In Anaphase 1, the two chromosomes
will then be separated and moved to the
opposite sides of the cell, where the centrioles
are. The centrioles and spindle fibers will start
disintegrating and new nuclear envelope form.
Looking at the left-side figure, the two
chromosomes are now moved to the sides, just
aside the centrioles and spindle fibers.
Figure 4.2. Second depiction of a cell undergoing anaphase 1
Procedure: Telophase 1
In Telophase 1, the two homologous
chromosomes have separated and each
opposite poles have one set of chromosomes.
The newly formed nuclear membrane/envelope
surrounds each chromosome.
Looking at the left-side figure, the two
chromosomes are now surrounded by the
newly formed nuclear envelope and cytokinesis
will divide the cytoplasm (paper towel) to
complete Meiosis I.
Figure 5. Depiction of the two new haploid cells before undergoing
cytokinesis
Procedure: Cytokinesis
In Cytokinesis, the cell essentially
divides into two separate cells. This can
happen as early into telophase.
Looking at the left-side figure, the two
chromosomes are now surrounded by the
newly formed nuclear envelope and cytokinesis
will divide the cytoplasm (paper towel) to
complete Meiosis I.
Figure 6. Depiction of the two new haploid cells separated
Procedure: Prophase 2
In Prophase 2, this is where Meiosis II
begins. Meiosis II is basically dividing the sister
chromatids of the two cells into four haploid
cells with only half the chromosome number.
Looking at the left-side figure, the two
cells repeat the same four stages, PMAT or
Prophase-Metaphase-Anaphase-Telophase.
However, what is being divided here are the
homologous chromosomes (pair of gummy
worms) instead of the two pairs previously. The
centrioles (circular string candy) are present
again at the opposite sides of the cell.
Figure 7. Depiction of the two separate cells with centrioles present
Procedure: Metaphase 2
In Metaphase 2, each homologous
chromosomes line up again along the
metaphase plate and spindle fibers begin to
connect to the kinetochore/centromere of the
chromosome.
Looking at the left-side figure, the
spindle fibers (string candy) are now connected
to the centromere of each homologous
chromosome (toothpick, M&M).
Figure 8. Depiction of Metaphase 2
Procedure: Anaphase 2
In Anaphase 2, the chromatids
separate from each other similar to anaphase
in mitosis. The separated chromatids are then
pulled into the opposite poles of the cell.
Looking at the left-side figure, the
spindle fibers (string candy) are pulling the
chromatids (individual gummy worms) to
where the centrioles (string candy) are.
Figure 9.1. Depiction of Anaphase 2
Procedure: Anaphase 2
In Anaphase 2, the chromatids
separate from each other similar to anaphase
in mitosis. The separated chromatids are then
pulled into the opposite poles of the cell.
Looking at the left-side figure, the
spindle fibers (string candy) have pulled the
chromatids (individual gummy worms) to
where the centrioles (string candy) are. Each
cell now undergoes Telophase 2.
Figure 9.2. Depiction of Anaphase 2
Procedure: Telophase 2
In Telophase 2, the chromatids have
separated from each other and have new
nuclear envelopes surrounding each chromatid.
The two cells will finally undergo a second
cytokinesis to produce four new haploid cells.
Looking at the left-side figure, the four
sets of chromosomes have nuclear envelopes
surrounding them. The two cells will have to
divide its cytoplasm to produce four haploid
cells.
Figure 10. Depiction of Telophase 2
Procedure: Cytokinesis (END)
In the second cytokinesis, the cytoplasm of the two cells containing the four sets
of chromosomes have divided into four haploid cells.
Looking at the left-side figure, the resulting four haploid cells are depicted by the
paper towel, candy string, and gummy worm, as the cytoplasm, nuclear envelope, and
the chromosome respectively.
Figure 11. The result of meiosis; four new haploid cells from one parent
gamete cell
