The green & orange "strings" represent chromosomes... homologous chromosomes. Homologous implies that they have the same genes (not identical though as the alleles may be different). The X's represent replicated chromosomes (chromatids). Notice the following:
All in all, the purpose of meiosis is to not only create cells with 1/2 the number of chromosomes, but only have one of each homologous chromosome.
- The final cells (gametes) have 1/2 the number of chromosomes that the original cell had
- In meiosis I (the 1st division) the homologous chromosomes were separated (green from orange)
- In meiosis II (the 2nd division) the attached chromatids are separated
All in all, the purpose of meiosis is to not only create cells with 1/2 the number of chromosomes, but only have one of each homologous chromosome.
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