During what stage of meiosis do the chromatids separate?

In meiosis, the separation of chromatids occurs during Anaphase II. This is the stage where the sister chromatids, which have already been duplicated and are held together at the centromere, are pulled apart towards opposite poles of the cell. This separation is crucial for the formation of four haploid cells, each containing one copy of each chromosome, ensuring genetic diversity and maintaining the correct number of chromosomes when gametes are formed.

During Anaphase I, homologous chromosomes, not sister chromatids, are separated and pulled to opposite sides of the cell. Telophase I marks the end of the first meiotic division, where the cell begins to divide but does not yet involve the separation of sister chromatids. Metaphase II involves the alignment of the chromosomes in the middle of the cell but does not include the separation of chromatids until Anaphase II. Thus, Anaphase II is the key stage for the separation of chromatids in meiosis.