What is the correct order of the four stages of meiosis?

• A. Prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase
• B. Prophase, anaphase, metaphase, telophase
• C. Metaphase, prophase, anaphase, telophase
• D. Prophase, metaphase, telophase, anaphase

Answer: (A)

Meiosis follows a consistent sequence within each division: chromosomes condense and the nuclear envelope breaks down in prophase, chromosomes align at the center in metaphase, the chromatids (or homologous chromosomes in meiosis I) separate and move to opposite poles in anaphase, and the nuclei reform while the chromosomes de-condense in telophase (with cytokinesis typically succeeding). This makes the order prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase the correct four-stage progression. In meiosis, the event during anaphase I is the separation of homologous chromosomes rather than sister chromatids, but the sequence of stage names remains the same. The other options place stages in an order that contradicts how chromosomes behave during meiosis.