A red deck and a blue deck dealt into four hands8 panels. Red and blue doubled cards of the same number pair up and trade corners, then line the middle of the table. First division: two piles, copies still joined. Second: the copies part into four hands with one card of each number, no two alike.
Red towers and blue towers swap bricks, then split twice8 panels. Red and blue doubled brick towers of the same height pair up and trade a few bricks, then line the middle of the rug. First division: two trays, copies still pressed together. Second: the copies part into four small sets with one tower of each height, no two alike.
Two lab partners sketch both divisions at a microscope10 panels. Real chromosomes this time, each joined to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade pieces, then line the middle of the cell. First division: two cells, copies still joined. Second: the copies part into four nuclei. Last panel: four sketches go up on the board, one chromosome of each kind in a cell and no two alike.
A red deck and a blue deck dealt into four hands8 panels. Red and blue doubled cards of the same number pair up and trade corners, then line the middle of the table. First division: two piles, copies still joined. Second: the copies part into four hands with one card of each number, no two alike.
Kites in two colors swap tail ribbons and split twice8 panels. Red and blue doubled kites of the same shape pair up and trade tail ribbons, then line the middle of the sky. First division: two flocks, copies still on one string. Second: the copies part into four small flocks with one kite of each shape, no two alike.
Lanterns from two festivals trade tassels, then part twice8 panels. Red and blue doubled lanterns of the same shape pair up and trade tassels, then line the middle of the courtyard. First division: two wires, copies still tied. Second: the copies part into four small clusters with one lantern of each shape, no two alike.
Penguins from two colonies swap pebbles, then part twice8 panels. Red and blue duos of twin penguins of the same height pair up and trade pebbles, then line the middle of the ice. First division: two huddles, twins still flipper in flipper. Second: the twins let go: four small groups with one penguin of each height, no two alike.
Pennants on two ropes swap stripes, then hang on four8 panels. Red and blue doubled pennants of the same shape pair up and trade a stripe, then line the middle of the gym floor. First division: two ropes, copies still stitched. Second: the stitches go: four short ropes with one pennant of each shape, no two alike.
Red and blue bead strings trade beads, then divide twice8 panels. Red and blue doubled bead strings of the same length pair up and trade a few beads, then line the middle of the tray. First division: two dishes, copies still knotted. Second: the knots come undone: four small dishes with one string of each length, no two alike.
Red sneakers and blue sneakers trade laces and part twice8 panels. Red and blue doubled sneakers of the same size pair up and trade laces, then line the middle of the hallway. First division: two racks, copies still tied together. Second: the copies part into four small racks with one sneaker of each size, no two alike.
Red towers and blue towers swap bricks, then split twice8 panels. Red and blue doubled brick towers of the same height pair up and trade a few bricks, then line the middle of the rug. First division: two trays, copies still pressed together. Second: the copies part into four small sets with one tower of each height, no two alike.
Tandem bicycles from two clubs trade bells, then come apart8 panels. Red and blue tandem bicycles of the same size pair up and trade bells, then line the middle of the road. First division: two sheds, every tandem still in one piece. Second: each tandem splits into single bikes: four racks with one bike of each size, no two alike.
Two baskets of quilt patches end as four small quilts8 panels. Red and blue doubled patches of the same shape pair up and trade a strip of cloth, then line the middle of the sewing table. First division: two baskets, copies still pinned. Second: the pins come out: four small quilts with one patch of each shape, no two alike.
Two pencil cases swap erasers and fill four cups8 panels. Red and blue doubled pencils of the same length pair up and trade erasers, then line the middle of the desk. First division: two pencil cases, copies still banded. Second: the bands come off: four cups with one pencil of each length, no two alike.
Two toolboxes trade handles and end as four small kits8 panels. Red and blue doubled wrenches of the same size pair up and trade handles, then line the middle of the workbench. First division: two boxes, copies still taped. Second: the copies part into four small kits with one wrench of each size, no two alike.
10 panels 12
A game show host calls every stage of two divisions10 panels. A host's answer cards, each clipped to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade a few answers, then line the middle of the desk. First division: two stacks, copies still clipped. Second: the copies part into four stacks. Last panel: the host reads out four hands with one card of each kind, and no two match.
A signal officer sorts red and blue flags into four lockers10 panels. Signal flags, each sewn to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade a corner patch, then line the middle of the deck. First division: two masts, copies still sewn. Second: the copies part into four lockers. Last panel: four boats each hoist one flag of each shape, every string a different mix.
Chromosomes with faces narrate their own two divisions10 panels. 'We have each been copied.' Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade pieces, then line the middle of the cell. First division: two cells, copies still joined. Second: the copies part into four nuclei. Last panel: four cells wave, each with one chromosome of each kind and each a little different.
Robot crews in red and blue trade arms before two splits10 panels. Robots, each bolted to an exact copy of itself. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade an arm, then line the middle of the workshop. First division: two bays, copies still bolted. Second: the copies part into four small crews. Last panel: four crews with one robot of each kind roll out, each a different mix of red and blue.
Two circus troupes swap acts and tour as four small shows10 panels. Acrobats, each with an identical twin. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade a trick, then line the middle of the ring. First division: two tents, twins still together. Second: the twins part into four small troupes. Last panel: four posters go up: one acrobat of each act in a show, and no two shows the same.
Two costume trunks swap hats and are packed into four cases10 panels. Costumes, each pinned to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade hats, then line the middle of the stage. First division: two trunks, copies still pinned. Second: the copies part into four small cases. Last panel: four cases with one of each costume open on four different shows.
Two fleets of sailboats trade sails and leave as four10 panels. Sailboats, each lashed to an exact copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade a sail, then line the middle of the harbor. First division: two docks, copies still lashed. Second: the copies part into four small flotillas. Last panel: four flotillas with one boat of each size sail out, each a different mix of sails.
Two ice cream stands trade scoops and serve four cones10 panels. Tubs of ice cream, each stacked on its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade a scoop, then line the middle of the counter. First division: two carts, copies still stacked. Second: the copies part into four small carts. Last panel: four carts with one tub of each flavor serve four cones, each a different mix.
Two lab partners sketch both divisions at a microscope10 panels. Real chromosomes this time, each joined to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade pieces, then line the middle of the cell. First division: two cells, copies still joined. Second: the copies part into four nuclei. Last panel: four sketches go up on the board, one chromosome of each kind in a cell and no two alike.
Two seed collections trade seeds and fill four small boxes10 panels. Seed packets, each stapled to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade a few seeds, then line the middle of the bench. First division: two crates, copies still stapled. Second: the copies part into four small boxes. Last panel: four gardeners get one packet of each kind, and no two boxes match.
Two sticker albums trade stickers and end as four booklets10 panels. Album pages, each clipped to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade a few stickers, then line the middle of the floor. First division: two piles, copies still clipped. Second: the copies part into four booklets. Last panel: four booklets with one of each page lie side by side, no two alike.
Two toy boxes swap wheels and are tidied into four bins10 panels. Toy cars, each taped to its copy. Red finds its blue match, the pairs trade wheels, then line the middle of the playroom floor. First division: two boxes, copies still taped. Second: the copies part into four bins. Last panel: four kids open four bins with one car of each model, each a different mix.
How it works
These meiosis comic strip ideas each give a cast in two colors, what the matched pairs swap, where they line up and how the two divisions end. Every strip finishes with four cells, no two alike.
Read the full guide
Red set, blue set
Every cast comes in two colors, for the two sets of chromosomes in a cell, one from each parent. A doubled card, or a duo of twins, is a chromosome joined to its copy. Meiosis makes gametes, the egg and sperm cells, each with a single set.
The stages, a panel each
Prophase I: matching chromosomes pair up and swap pieces. Metaphase I: the pairs line up along the middle. Anaphase I: the pairs part, each chromosome still joined to its copy. Telophase I: two cells. The second division repeats the four stages, and in anaphase II the copies part. A 10-panel strip gives prophase I two panels and ends on the four finished cells.
Keep red and blue in every panel. The swapped pieces in prophase I are one reason the four cells differ.
Questions and answers
What are the stages of meiosis in order?
Prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I and telophase I, then prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II and telophase II. The chromosomes are copied once, before the first division.
How is a meiosis comic strip different from a mitosis one?
Mitosis is one division and ends with two identical cells. Meiosis has two divisions, the matching chromosomes swap pieces first, and it ends with four cells that each hold half the chromosomes and differ from one another.
What must a meiosis comic strip show?
Three things: pairs of matching chromosomes swapping pieces, two divisions one after the other, and four cells at the end, each with half the chromosomes and no two alike. Write the stage name in every panel.
What is crossing over?
Crossing over is the exchange of pieces between paired matching chromosomes, one from each parent, during meiosis. In these strips it is the panel where red and blue trade corners, tassels or beads.