At what stage of the cell cycle do chromosomes replicate in preparation for meiosis?
At what stage of the cell cycle do chromosomes replicate in preparation for meiosis?
Answer
Chromosomes replicate in preparation for meiosis during the S phase (synthesis phase) of the cell cycle. This stage occurs before meiosis begins and is part of the interphase, which consists of three phases: G1 (gap 1), S (synthesis), and G2 (gap 2).During the S phase, each chromosome is duplicated, resulting in two identical sister chromatids that are held together at the centromere. This replication is crucial as it ensures that when meiosis occurs, each daughter cell will receive the correct amount of genetic material. After DNA replication, the cell enters a prolonged stage resembling G2, known as meiotic prophase, where homologous chromosomes pair and undergo genetic recombination