Zygotene is the second stage of Prophase I in meiosis, where homologous chromosomes pair through a process called synapsis, facilitated by the synaptonemal complex. This stage is crucial for genetic recombination, allowing for the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids. Prophase I consists of five stages, with zygotene being significant for the alignment and pairing of maternal and paternal chromosomes.
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
0 ratings0% found this document useful (0 votes)
69 views5 pages
Zygotene
Zygotene is the second stage of Prophase I in meiosis, where homologous chromosomes pair through a process called synapsis, facilitated by the synaptonemal complex. This stage is crucial for genetic recombination, allowing for the exchange of genetic material between non-sister chromatids. Prophase I consists of five stages, with zygotene being significant for the alignment and pairing of maternal and paternal chromosomes.
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF or read online on Scribd
Vedaniti,
Lear UNE Online
Zygotene
What is Zygoten@
Zygotene comes under the second stage Prophase-1 of meiosis. It is followed by the stage of
leptotene, where chromosome uncoiling and condensing occurs. Homologous chromosomes
(one from the mother and one from the father) come together and pair in the zygotene phase.
Synapsis is a very specific and precise process. At the end of the chromosome, the synapsis
process may begin and progress towards the centromere or vice-versa. Synapsis occurs at
multiple points in the random form. A protein complex known as the synaptonemal complex
joins the paired chromosomes together
Synapsis
The pairing of two homologous chromosomes that occurs during meiosis is synapsis (also
called syndesis). It enables the matching of homologous pairs and possible chromosomal
crossover between them prior to their segregation. This occurs during prophase | of meiosis.
Their ends are first attached to the nuclear envelope once homologous chromosomes synapse.
Then, aided by the extranuclear cytoskeleton these end-membrane complexes migrate until
matching ends have been paired. Then the chromosome’s intervening regions are brought
togetherand connected through a protein-RNA complex called the synaptonemal complex.
During meiosis, autosomes undergo synapsis and are kept together by a protein complex called
the synaptonemal complex along the entire length of the chromosomes. Sex chromosomes
often undergo synapsis, but only one end of each sex chromosome contains the synaptonemal
protein complex that binds the homologous chromosomes together
MeioticProphaseVedaniti,
Lear UNE Online
Sexually reproducing species use a process to produce gametes, such as sperm or egg cells,
and this process is called meiosis, It is a special form of cell division of germ cells. It requires
twocdivision rounds that eventually result in four cells with just one copy of each paternal and
maternal chromosome.
Meiosis usually has two cycles of segregation of chromosomes and thus twice undergoes
prophase, leading to prophase | and prophase II. In all meiosis, Prophase | is the most complex
stage because homologous chromosomes have to pair and exchange genetic information. The
mitotic prophase is very similar to Prophase Il.
Prophasel
Prophase | consists of five stages: leptotene, zygotene, diplotene, pachytene, and diakinesis. In
contrast to the events that occur in mitotic prophase, during these stages, other important
events take place, such as the fusion of homologous chromosomes as well as the reciprocal
sharing of the genetic material between these homologous chromosomes. Prophase | occurs
at various speeds that depend on species and gender.
* Lapotene
Chromosomes begin to condense in the first stage of Prophase I, leptotene (from the Greek for
‘delicate’). Every chromosome is found to be in a haploid state and comprises two sister
chromatids, but the sister chromatids’ chromatin is not yet sufficiently condensed to be
microscopically resolvable. Homologous regions start to interact with each other within
homologous chromosome pairs.
* Zygotene
Both maternally and paternally derived chromosomes have met their homologous partner in the
second step of prophase I, zygotene (from the Greek for ‘conjugation. Then the homologous
pairs undergo synapsis, a mechanism by which the synaptonemal complex aligns the
corresponding genetic information regions with the non-sister chromatids of homologous
chromosome pairs, maternally and paternally derived. The synaptonemal complex-bound paired
homologous chromosome is referred to as bivalents or tetrads Sex chromosomes (X and Y) do
not completely synapse since they are homologous only toa small region of the chromosomes.
In the nucleus, the nucleolus shifts from a central to a peripheral position.
* PachyteneVedaniti,
Lear UNE Online
At the end of synapsis, the third step of prophase |, pachytene (from the Greek for 'thick),
begins. Chromatin gets sufficiently condensed such that in microscopy, chromosomes can now
be resolved. On the synaptonemal complex of bivalents, structures called recombination
nodules are formed. In an event known as crossing-over or genetic recombination, these
recombination nodules promote genetic exchange amongst non-sister chromatids of the
synaptonemal complex. There can be several recombination instances on each bivalent. An
average of 2-3 events happens on each chromosome in humans
*Diplotene
The crossing-over is done in the fourth step of prophase |, diplotene (from the Greek for
‘twofold). A total collection of genetic information is preserved by homologous chromosomes,
but the homologous chromosomes are also of mixed maternal and paternal descent. Visible
junctions are also called chiasmata to keep the homologous chromosomes together as the
synaptonemal complex dissolves in areas where recombination occurred. Meiotic arrest occurs
in many species at this point.
*Diakinesis
Diakinesis is the fifth and final step of prophase | where complete chromatin condensation
occurs. At this stage, four sister chromatids can be seen with microscopy in bivalents. As the
meiotic prophase ends with the spindle apparatus beginning to develop, and the nuclear
membrane beginning to break down, the remainder of the phase resembles the early stages of
mitotic prometaphase.
Courses (class3-12)
aa?’ ivwd é
NET Crash JEE Neer JEE/NEET case ICSE olympiad
FoundationVedaniti,
Lear NEOnlne
aE Tce leit
More Grades
NEO
General Social Set
‘Super Hacks to Study NCERT Federali
Biology to Crack NEET 2023
ByAmbika Devi By Kumar
I Gl
Sled)
Cote MC teri
Peer aa eae
PecoVedaniti,
Lear UNE Online
Book your Free Demo session
Get a flavour of LIVE classes here at Vedantu
Een R Ca)
Vedantu Improvement Promise
We promiseimprovementin marksor get your feesback. T&C Apply*