| Stage |
Major Features |
| Meiosis I |
|
| Prophase I |
Chromosomes condense, homologous chromosomes synapse, crossing over takes place, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and the mitotic spindle forms. |
| Metaphase I |
Homologous pairs of chromosomes line up on the metaphase plate. |
| Anaphase I |
The two chromosomes (each with two chromatids) of each homologous pair separate and move toward opposite poles. |
| Telophase I |
Chromosomes arrive at the spindle poles. |
| Cytokinesis |
The cytoplasm divides to produce two cells, each having half the original number of chromosomes. |
| Interkinesis |
In some types of cells, the spindle breaks down, chromosomes relax, and a nuclear envelope re-forms, but no DNA synthesis takes place. |
| Meiosis II |
|
| Prophase II* |
Chromosomes condense, the spindle forms, and the nuclear envelope disintegrates. |
| Metaphase II |
Individual chromosomes line up on the metaphase plate. |
| Anaphase II |
Sister chromatids separate and move as individual chromosomes toward the spindle poles. |
| Telophase II |
Chromosomes arrive at the spindle poles; the spindle breaks down and a nuclear envelope re-forms. |
| Cytokinesis |
The cytoplasm divides. |
| *Only in cells in which the spindle has broken down, chromosomes have relaxed, and the nuclear envelope has re-formed in telophase I. Other types of cells proceed directly to metaphase II after cytokinesis. |