Basics of Cytogenetics:

Mitosis and Meiosis Tutorial

Dr. Karen Harrison
Department of Pathology &
Molecular Medicine
Queens University
harrison@cliff.path.queensu. ca

Objectives:
Describe the process of somatic cell
division - mitosis - and the
consequences of any errors
Describe the process of germ cell
division - meiosis - and the
consequences of any errors

Chromosome Function
Carry genetic information in a defined
structure
ensure somatic cell division (mitosis)
complete genetic complement
ensure gamete formation (meiosis)
unique set of parental genes

What is Mitosis?
Somatic cell division consisting of
nuclear division and cytokinesis
Single cell divides to produce two
identical daughter cells
crucial for growth and development
human zygote = 1 cell
mature adult = 1 X 10 14 cells

Mitosis

From Thompson & Thompson 6th Ed (2001)

Consequences of Mitosis
Normal mitosis:
One cell 2 progeny cells with identical
genetic content
crucial for growth and development

Mitotic errors:
daughter cells do not have identical genetic
content = *mosaicism*

What is Mosaicism?
An individual with 2 different cell lines
derived from a single zygote
= 47
= 46
=45
lethal

Mitosis and Non-disjunction

What is Meiosis?
Germ cell division
gametogenesis

Key event that alternates haploid and

diploid phases of human life cycle
production of haploid germ cells

2 successive cell divisions without

intervening DNA replication

Consequences of Meiosis:
reproduction and species maintenance
Reduction of chromosome number (46
23)
random segregation of alleles
random assortment of homologous
chromosomes
increase genetic variation
(recombination)

 Comparison
of mitosis
and meiosis

Abnormalities In Meiosis:
Meiotic non-disjunction:
meiosis I
aneuploidy
meiosis II
*

Causes of Meiotic Nondisjunction

Primary Cause:
Aging effect on primary oocyte
Late maternal age (LMA) predisposes to
non-disjunction

Consequence of Nondisjunction
Aneuploidy = any chromosome number
that is not the exact multiple of the
haploid number (23)
trisomy (21, 13, 18)
monosomy (X)

Meiotic ND - not mosaic

Mitotic ND - mosaic

Some Useful Websites?

www.biology.arizona.edu/cell_bio/
tutorials/cell_cycle/cells3.html
http://www.accessexcellence.org/AB/
GG/comparison.html
http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/multimedia/
mitosis/mitosis_qt1.html

Questions?

Dr. Karen Harrison

harrison@cliff.path.queensu.ca
KGH X4405