What are the stages of meiosis?

The stages of meiosis are Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, Telophase I, Cytokinesis I, Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II, and Cytokinesis II.

Meiosis is a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell. It is a two-part cell division process in organisms that sexually reproduce. The stages of meiosis are divided into Meiosis I and Meiosis II, each consisting of several phases.

In Meiosis I, the cell undergoes Prophase I where the chromosomes condense and pair up. The nuclear envelope breaks down and the spindle fibres form. During Metaphase I, the paired chromosomes align at the cell's equator. In Anaphase I, the pairs separate and move to opposite ends of the cell. Telophase I sees the chromosomes gather at the poles of the cell, the cytoplasm divides (Cytokinesis I) and two daughter cells are formed.

Meiosis II is similar to mitosis. During Prophase II, the chromosomes condense and the spindle fibres reappear. Metaphase II sees the chromosomes align at the equator of each cell. In Anaphase II, the sister chromatids separate and move to opposite ends of the cell. During Telophase II, the chromosomes gather at the poles of the cells and the nuclear envelope reforms. Finally, the cytoplasm divides (Cytokinesis II) and four haploid daughter cells are produced.

These stages ensure genetic diversity through the process of crossing over during Prophase I and independent assortment during Metaphase I. This is crucial for the survival and evolution of species. Understanding these stages is fundamental to understanding genetics and the process of sexual reproduction.