APPENDIX 2-2 Stages of Meiosis

Meiosis consists of two nuclear divisions distinguished as meiosis I and meiosis II, which take place in consecutive cell divisions. Each meiotic division is formally divided into prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Of these stages, the most complex and lengthy is prophase I, which is divided into five stages.

The photographs below show the stages of meiosis in the nuclei of root-tip cells of the royal lily, Lilium regale. In each stage, a photograph is shown at the left and an interpretive drawing at the right.

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The photographs show meiosis and pollen formation in Lilium regale. Note: For simplicity, multiple chiasmata are drawn between only two chromatids; in reality, all four chromatids can take part.
[J. McLeish and B. Snoad, Looking at Chromosomes. Copyright 1958, St. Martin’s, Macmillan.

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