Meiosis II - Introduction

Description:

Meiosis II is shorter than a typical mitotic division. The division maintains the number of chromosomes produced at the end of reduction division. Hence meiosis II is called homotypic or equational division.

Meiosis II is similar to mitosis but is not mitosis because −

• It always occurs in haploid cells.
• It is not preceded by DNA replication.
• The two chromatids are often dissimilar.
• The daughter cells formed after meiosis II are neither similar to each other or to the parents.

A very short phase called interkinesis or intrameiotic interphase exist between telophase I and prophase II. This phase involves the synthesis of proteins and RNA.