Phases of Meiosis 2
Meiosis 2 begins with Prophase II, where the nuclear envelopes and nucleoli disintegrate in each cell produced during Meiosis 1. The chromosomes condense while centrosomes replicate and move to opposite poles. Unlike Prophase I, no synapsis or crossing over occurs during this stage.
In Metaphase II, chromosomes align at the metaphase plate with spindle fibers fully formed and attached. This arrangement is similar to what happens during mitosis. Next comes Anaphase II, where the centromeres of each chromosome separate, and the sister chromatids (now called individual chromosomes) move toward opposite poles.
The process concludes with Telophase II, when nuclear envelopes form around each set of chromosomes. Cytokinesis follows, creating four genetically different daughter cells, each with a haploid set of chromosomes.
Remember this! Meiosis 2 looks very similar to mitosis, but it's working with cells that already went through Meiosis 1, so the end result is four haploid cells instead of two diploid cells.
