mei·o·sis (m -  s s)n. pl. mei·o·ses (-s  z ) 1. Genetics The process of cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes in reproductive cells from diploid to haploid, leading to the production of gametes in animals and spores in plants. 2. Rhetorical understatement. [Greek mei sis, diminution, from meioun, to diminish, from mein, less; see mei-2 in Indo-European roots.]mei·ot ic (- tk) adj.mei·ot i·cal·ly adv. |
meiosis [maɪˈəʊsɪs]
n pl -ses [-ˌsiːz]
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) a type of cell division in which a nucleus divides into four daughter nuclei, each containing half the chromosome number of the parent nucleus: occurs in all sexually reproducing organisms in which haploid gametes or spores are produced Compare mitosis See also prophase [2]
2. (Literature / Rhetoric) Rhetoric another word for litotes
[via New Latin from Greek: a lessening, from meioun to diminish, from meiōn less]
meiotic [maɪˈɒtɪk] adj
meiotically adv
| meiosis (m-ss) The process in cell division in sexually reproducing organisms that reduces the number of chromosomes from diploid to haploid (half the original number). Meiosis involves two consecutive divisions of the nucleus and leads to the production of reproductive cells (gametes) in animals and to the formation of spores in plants, fungi, and most algae (the haploid spores grow into organisms that produce gametes by mitosis). Meiosis begins when the chromosomes, which have already duplicated, condense along the center of the nucleus, and pairs of homologous chromosomes undergo crossing over, whereby some of their genetic material is exchanged. The pairs of chromosomes then separate and move to opposite ends of the cell, and the cell itself divides into two cells. In the second stage, each of these two cells also divides into two cells. Meiosis thus produces four cells, each of which contain half the number of chromosomes as the original cell. Some or all of the four cells may become functional gametes or spores. Compare mitosis. A Closer Look Meiosis is the process by which the nucleus divides in all sexually reproducing organisms during the production of spores or gametes. These cells have a single set of chromosomes and are called haploid, as opposed to diploid cells with two sets. In humans, for example, gametes have one set of 23 chromosomes and are formed through meiosis from special diploid cells found in the testes and ovaries. When meiosis begins, each of the 46 chromosomes in these cells consists of two identical chromatids, just as in body cells about to divide by mitosis. However, in meiosis, there are two cell divisions instead of one, so that four daughter cells are produced, instead of two. At the start of the first meiotic division, homologous chromosomes (which have genes for the same traits in the same position) form pairs and exchange genetic material in the process known as crossing over. This process does not occur in mitosis. Then during the first meiotic division, one member of each pair of homologous chromosomes moves to each end of the cell, and the cell itself divides. Each of the two cells produced by the first division has just one set of 23 chromosomes. However, every chromosome still consists of two chromatids at this stage. The two daughter cells then undergo the second meiotic division, which is similar to mitosis. One chromatid from each of the 23 chromosomes moves to each of end of the cell, and the daughter cell itself divides. The chromatids form the chromosomes of the new cells produced by the second meiotic division, and each cell has a single set of 23 chromosomes, normally with slight genetic variation from the original parent cell. In the human female, just one of the four daughter cells will become a functional gamete (the ovum), but in the human male, all four cells develop into gametes (sperm). At fertilization, the union of the male and female gametes restores the two full sets of chromosomes in the human zygote. |   top to bottom: First division, second division, and reproductive cells. Light and dark chromosomes distinguish chromosomes from the two parents. |
meiosis
an expressive understatement, especially litotes. — meiotic, adj.
See also: Rhetoric and Rhetorical Devices
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  meiosis - (genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)genetic science, genetics - the branch of biology that studies heredity and variation in organisms anaphase - the stage of meiosis or mitosis when chromosomes move toward opposite ends of the nuclear spindle cell division, cellular division - the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells cytokinesis - organic process consisting of the division of the cytoplasm of a cell following karyokinesis bringing about the separation into two daughter cells karyokinesis - organic process consisting of the division of the nucleus of a cell during mitosis or meiosis metaphase - the second stage of meiosis nondisjunction - meiosis in which there is a failure of paired homologous chromosomes to separate; results in an abnormal number of chromosomes in the daughter cells prophase - the first stage of meiosis segregation - (genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes telophase - the final stage of meiosis when the chromosomes move toward opposite ends of the nuclear spindle |
| 2. | meiosis - understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary); "saying `I was not a little upset' when you mean `I was very upset' is an example of litotes" understatement - a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said rhetorical device - a use of language that creates a literary effect (but often without regard for literal significance) |
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