Dazl Gene Required for Meiosis Initiation (IMAGE) Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research Caption In the image above, the wild-type ovaries express Stra8 (shown by the purple stain), but the ovaries lacking the Dazl gene do not show Stra8 expression. Stra8 is expressed at the very beginning of meiosis, the type of cell division in germ cells that halves the number of chromosomes in preparation of egg or sperm production. Credit Image courtesy of Science/AAAS Usage Restrictions Receive permission from Science/AAAS License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.