Phases of Meiosis:
Prophase 1
Prophase 1 is the first stage of Meiosis. During this phase the Chromosomes condense and then attach to the nuclear envelope. One pair of the homologous chromosomes the line up together and a tetrad is formed. Each tetrad is made up of four chromatids. The Chromosomes thicken and then they are removed from the nuclear envelope. Like in mitosis the centrioles migrate away from each other and the nuclear envelope and the nucleoli break down. The Chromosomes then start their migration to the Metaphase stage.
Metaphase 1
In Metaphase 1, the second phase of Meiosis, the tetrads align at the metaphase plate. The centromeres of homologous chromosomes are oriented toward the opposite cell poles.
Anaphase 1
In the third phase of Meiosis the Chromosomes move to the opposite cell poles. Like in Mitosis, the microtubules and the kinetochore fibers interact to cause the motion.
Unlike in mitosis, the homologous chromosomes move to opposite poles but the sister chromatids stay together.
Unlike in mitosis, the homologous chromosomes move to opposite poles but the sister chromatids stay together.
Telophase 1
Now we have reached the fourth stage of Meiosis. In this stage the spindle fibers continue to move the homologous chromosomes towards the poles. Once this motion is finished each pole will have a haploid number of chromosomes. Cytokinesis usually occurs at the same time as Telophase. At the end of Telophase and cytokinesis the two daughter cells have now been produced, each with half the chromosomes as the parent cell.
Prophase 2
The first four stages/phases of Meiosis is almost exactly like Mitosis but now all four stages will repeat again. In Prophase 2, the fifth stage, the nuclear membrane and nuclei break up while the spindle network appears. The chromosomes will not replicate any further during this stage of Meiosis and will then move towards the Metaphase 2 plate.
Metaphase 2
During the beginning of Metaphase 2 the Chromosomes line up at the Metaphase plate. The kinetochores of the sister chromatids face the opposite poles.
Anaphase 2
In Anaphase 2 the sister chromatids separate and move toward the opposite cell poles like in Anaphase 1.
Telophase 2
In Telophase 2 the distinct nuclei form at the opposite poles and cytokinesis occurs again. One Anaphase in completed there will be four daughter cells that each contain half of the chromosomes of the original parent cell.