With help of suitable diagram, explain 5 stages of prophase -1 of meiosis.
Answers
Prophase 1 is first phase of meiotic 1 division that includes five stages, leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene and diakinesis, respectively. The laptotene include condensation of replicated chromosomes and sister chromatids can be distinguished at this stage. During zygotene, synapses of homologous chromosomes occur that form bivalent or tetravalent.
Pachytene includes exchange of genetic material or crossing over. The sister chromatids get separated from each other, while the homologous chromosomes stay together. During diplotene, chromosomes move apart from each other and now, they are joined together only by chaisma.
Diakinesis is the final step of meiosis, during which chromosomes are fully condensed and can be seen clearly under a microscope. The nuclear envelope starts to disintegrate, nucleolus disappears, and centrioles move toward the equator