Difference Between Meiosis in Males and Meiosis in Females

Table of Contents

Our human body undergoes various process since the birth to till the day we die. During infancy the body develops the motor skills, bone development occurs, while during adolescence age both males and females undergoes many hormonal, physical, and mental changes. Some of the changes even lasts forever in the human body. And crossing the adulthood to old age the body start losing the motor skills, become weak, prone to more diseases, and many other changes.

Meiosis in Males vs Meiosis in Females

The main difference between Meiosis in Males and Meiosis in Females is that the process of meiosis in males start after attaining the adolescence period which may vary from 12 to 14 while comparatively, on the other hand, the process of meiosis in females gets started in the 12th week of the fetus and most of the process is completed during the time only.

Meiosis in Male is also commonly known as spermatogenesis or sperms production in males. The process is started when a person is aged between the year 12 to 14. The age period is often referred to as the ‘adolescence period’. It forms the sexual gametes and the whole process occurred in the seminiferous tubules. The process is completed in two main steps – meiosis I and meiosis II.

Meiosis in females is also commonly known as the oogenesis where the female sexual gamete is formed. Unlike, males the process starts even before birth. Thus, most of the gametes that are generated or formed are destroyed and the rest are stopped or arrested at the diplotene stage of the meiosis process. Then after entering the age of 12 to 14, the process starts again and every month one of the eggs is matured.  

Comparison Table Between Meiosis in Males and Meiosis in Females

Parameters of ComparisonMeiosis in MalesMeiosis in Females
DefinitionProcess of cell division resulting in gameteOccurs before birth and the rest are formed in egg cells
Other NameSpermatogenesisOogenesis
Location Seminiferous tubulesOvaries
Number of haploid cells4 spermatozoa or spermsSingle egg
TimeFew days or weeksBefore birth to about 45 years
Cell DivisionSymmetricAsymmetric
Chromosome Synapsis EfficiencyMoreLess
Initial StartSince pubertyBefore birth
SizeSmallLarge
ProductionContinuousFixed and finite

What is Meiosis in Males?

Meiosis is a scientific process in which the cell divides into half the daughter cells in the Stage I process and then after the Stage II process, the daughter cells are divided to form 4 different daughter cells. And the same process is followed in the formation of male sexual gametes. The process in males is commonly known by the name ‘spermatogenesis’.

The process involves DNA replication and the cell divides in two after which crossing over of the chromosomes happens which then finally, segregates them in equal and half forming secondary oocytes in the males. During the stage II or meiosis II process, the secondary oocytes are then replicated and produce four different spermatozoa or sperms.

The above process takes place in the seminiferous tubules present in males. The size of the gamete is also short and they are very motile. And the production once started remains continuous and life-long.  

What is Meiosis in Females?

In females, the process of meiosis occurs with some changes as initially it gets started even before the birth of the girl child. The meiosis division starts when the fetus is just 12 weeks old and all the cells divide during that time only but the division stops after achieving a certain stage of the meiosis. Then it restarts when the female individuals move to their adolescence period.

The size of the gamete is large compared to males along with this egg cells are not motile. And the whole process of meiosis occurring in females is commonly known as ‘oogenesis’.   

Main Differences Between Meiosis in Male and Meiosis in Females

  • The definition of the meiosis process occurring in males can be stated as the cell division taking place since puberty forming the sperms while comparatively, on the other hand, the definition of the meiosis process occurring in females can be stated as the division of cells before birth and restarting during the adolescence period. 
  • The other name of the process commonly used for males is spermatogenesis while comparatively, on the other hand, the other name of the process commonly used for females is oogenesis.
  • The location of the process to occur in males is the seminiferous tubules while comparatively, on the other hand, the location of the process to occur in females is the ovaries.
  • After completion of the two meiosis processes, in males, a total four number of sperms are produced while comparatively, on the other hand, after completing the process of meiosis in females, a single ova are released. 
  • The meiosis process in males completes in a few or weekdays to complete the one cycle while comparatively, on the other hand, the meiosis process in females completes in a month.
  • The cell division in males is said to be in symmetry while comparatively, on the other hand, the cell division in females is said to be in asymmetry.
  • In males, the efficiency of chromosome synapsis is more while comparatively, on the other hand, in females the efficiency of chromosome synapsis is less.
  • In males, the commencement of the meiosis process starts in the adolescence age i.e. 12 to 14 while comparatively, on the other hand, in females the commencement of the meiosis process starts before birth and is then arrested at a certain stage and then restart during adolescence age.
  • The gamete size produced in the males is very small comparatively, on the other hand, the gamete size produced in the females is large.
  • The gamete production in males is a very continuous process while comparatively, on the other the gamete production in females is fixed and has a finite number. 
  • Conclusion

    To summarize the given topic this can be concluded that meiosis is a very complex process and involves two processes meiosis I and meiosis II. The meiosis process involves many stages in the process like – pachytene, leptotene, leptotene, diakinesis, telophase, metaphase I and II, etc. The process is also commonly known by different names in males and females. In males, it is known by the name Spermatogenesis and in females, it is known by the name Oogenesis.

    The meiosis involves many aspects and the process may be disturbed because of some unhealthy habits, or practices followed by the person which may result in a distorted cycle and many health issues.  

    References

  • https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF00352222.pdf
  • https://www.nature.com/articles/hdy199030
  • http://genesdev.cshlp.org/content/14/9/1085.short
  • https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1004444
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