The key difference between telophase 1 and 2 is that the telophase I is the termination phase of the first nuclear division of meiosis and results in two daughter cells while the telophase II is the termination phase of the second nuclear division of meiosis and results in four daughter cells at the end of the process.
Meiosis is one of the two main nuclear division processes. Therefore, it is an important process in the sexual reproduction during the sex cell formation. Meiosis occurs via two nuclear divisions namely meiosis I and meiosis II. Each nuclear division has four subphases; prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Telophase is the final stage of both meiosis and mitosis that completes the nuclear division. Telophase is followed by the cytokinesis (cytoplasmic division). Hence, telophase 1 is the final stage of meiosis I while the telophase 2 is the final stage of meiosis II. Moreover, telophase 2 is similar to the telophase of the mitotic cell division. The aim of this article is to highlight the difference between telophase 1 and 2.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Telophase 1
3. What is Telophase 2
4. Similarities Between Telophase 1 and 2
5. Side by Side Comparison – Telophase 1 vs 2 in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Telophase 1?
Telophase 1 is the termination stage of meiosis I. At the beginning of this stage, each half of the cell contains a complete haploid set of chromosomes having two sister chromatids. In telophase 1, the reformation of the nuclear envelope occurs around the chromosome set and spindle and astral rays gradually disappear.
Figure 01: Meiosis
Furthermore, chromosomes start to decondense. Usually, the cytokinesis begins simultaneously with telophase 1 and results in two haploid daughter cells at the end.
What is Telophase 2?
Telophase 2 is the final stage of meiosis II. It is the termination of the whole meiosis process. In telophase 2, the reformation of nuclear membranes and the de-condensation of chromosomes occur, and spindle apparatus disappears.
Figure 02: Telophase 2
However, the cells that having rapid meiosis do not undergo decondensation. Ultimately, one parent cell produces four daughter cells, each with a haploid set of chromosomes. In this stage, each chromosome has one chromatid out of the two sister chromatids.
What are the Similarities Between Telophase 1 and 2?
- Both telophase 1 and 2 occur in meiosis.
- Also, both telophases occur after anaphase.
- Cytokinesis follows telophase.
- In both telophases, nuclear membrane reforms and encloses the chromosomes.
- Furthermore, chromosomes de-condense in both phases.
What is the Difference Between Telophase 1 and 2?
Telophase 1is the final stage of meiosis I while telophase 2 is the final stage of meiosis II. Furthermore, telophase 1 results in two daughter cells, whereas telophase 2 results in four daughter cells at the end of the process. Therefore, this is a key difference between telophase 1 and 2. Moreover, in telophase 1, each chromosome has both sister chromatids, but in telophase 2, each chromosome has just one chromatid. Hence, it is also a difference between telophase 1 and 2. Moreover, telophase 1 occurs after anaphase 1, and it follows by cytokinesis. On the other hand, telophase 2 occurs after anaphase 2, and it follows by cytokinesis.
Below infographic provides more details on the difference between telophase 1 and 2.
Summary – Telophase 1 vs 2
Meiosis has two main stages; meiosis 1 and 2. Each meiosis has four subphases; prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Accordingly, telophase 1 is a subphase of meiosis 1 while telophase 2 is a subphase of meiosis 2.
In summarizing the difference between telophase 1 and 2; during the telophase 1, nuclear membrane reforms around the haploid chromosome set and then the chromosomes begin to decondense. On the other hand, during the telophase 2, nuclear membrane reforms and encloses chromosome sets. However, each chromosome has just one chromatid in this stage. Here also chromatids begin to decondense. At the end of the telophase 1, two haploid cells create from one cell while at the end of the telophase 2, four haploid cells create from one cell.
Reference:
1. “Meiosis.” Khan Academy, Khan Academy. Available here
Image Courtesy:
1.”Telophase”By D. Wu at English Wikipedia. (Public Domain) via Commons Wikimedia
2.”Meiosis2″By Boumphreyfr – Own work, (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia