Meiosis is an important cellular process for organisms that reproduce sexually. Two lab partners (A and B) are shown this diagram of a meiotic cell and asked to identify its phase.Partner A believes that this cell is in prophase of the first meiotic division. Partner B believes that this cell has moved past prophase of meiosis I and is in a later phase of meiosis.Which partner is correct, and what evidence accurately would defend their belief?Partner A is correct. The chromosomes have clearly replicated during interphase and are beginning to decondense into chromatin.O Partner A is correct. The nuclear membrane is beginning to re-form and centrioles are beginning to migrate to opposite poles of the cell.Partner B is correct. Homologous chromosomes are no longer paired together, so the cell must be in first phase of meiosis II, not meiosis I.O Partner B is correct. The cell plate is beginning to form between the two centrioles, indicating the cell is actually in later phase of meiosis I.

All these processes should be carried out in a regulated manner in order to ensure correct division and production of intact progeny. Cell cycle is a sequence of events by which a cell duplicates its genetic material, synthesizes other cell constituents and divides into two daughter cells. Cell division is of two types : mitosis is where the parental cell divides into two cells with identical genetic material and meiosis involves the reduction of the parental genetic material into equal halves. The interphase is divided into G1 (gap 1), G2 (gap 2) and S (synthesis) phase. G1 - It represents the time interval between mitosis and initiation of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) replication. It is the longest phase since all the components required for DNA replication and other processes are being made. S - It is the phase of the cell cycle where DNA replication occurs. G2 - In this phase all the necessary cell constituents like proteins are synthesized preparing the cell for division. M phase - All the components of the cell undergo rearrangements. It has four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Farmer and Moore are the two scientists who coined the term meiosis. It involves one round of replication followed by two rounds of chromosomal segregation. Meiosis 1 and meiosis 2 are the two divisions of meiosis. Prophase 1, metaphase 1, anaphase 1 and telophase 1 are the four stages of meiosis 1. This is followed by interkinesis after which meiosis occurs. Meiosis is seen in the germ cells. It has a long prophase and produces genetically different daughter cells.Partner A is correct. The chromosomes have clearly replicated during the interphase and are beginning to decondense into chromatin. The replication of the DNA takes place in the interphase and the condensation of the chromatin takes place in the prophase. Hence this option is not correct. Partner A is correct. The nuclear membrane is beginning to re-form and centrioles are beginning to migrate to the opposite poles. The nuclear membrane reforms in the telophase 1 but centriole migration takes place during the prophase. Hence this option is incorrect. Partner B is correct. Homologous Chromosomes are no longer paired together, so the cell must be in the first phase of meiosis 2, not meiosis 1. This option is correct because homologous chromosomes separate and move towards the opposite poles in the anaphase 1 and are not seen together in the first phase of meiosis 2. Partner B is correct. The cell plate is beginning to form between the two centrioles indicating the cell is actually in the later phase of meiosis 1. This statement is incorrect since cell plate formation occurs in plant cells but the picture of the cell depicted here is that of an animal cell. Plant cells do not have centrioles.