Meiosis Stages: Chromosome Condensation, Alignment, and Separation

Leptotene/Prophase

Chromatin/chromosomes begin to condense

Metaphase I

Interaction with the spindle fibers allows homologous chromosome pairs to align on the equatorial plane

Anaphase I

Homologous chromosomes migrate to opposite poles

Telophase I/Telophase II

Chromosomes reach the poles and Cytokinesis occurs

Prophase II

After Meiosis I, the chromosomes re-condense

Metaphase II

Sister chromatids align on the equatorial plane, and spindle fibers attach to the chromatid centromeres

Anaphase II

Sister chromatids migrate to opposite poles

Diplotene

Chiasma form and homologous chromosomes have begun to separate

Diakinesis

Homologous chromosomes are repelling and held together only by the chiasma

Pachytene

Crossing over occurs

Zygotene

Homologous chromosomes pair