Meiosis is preceded by an interphase which is nearly identical to the interphase preceding mitosis. During interphase, the DNA of the chromosomes is replicated. After DNA replication, each chromosome becomes composed of two identical copies (called sister chromatids) that are held together at the centromere until they are pulled apart during meiosis II.

Figure 2: Sister chromatids are identical copies of a chromosome that are held together at the centromere. They are produced during DNA replication. (Credit: User:SyntaxError55, from Wikimedia)

References

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OpenStax, Biology. OpenStax CNX. May 27, 2016http://cnx.org/contents/s8Hh0oOc@9.10:1Q8z96mT@4/Meiosis