Group I - Comparing Mitosis and Meiosis
Info Sheet
Meiosis
Meiosis is a type of cell division that results in the formation of four daughter cells
each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
Mitosis
Mitosis is the type of cell division that results in the formation of two daughter cells
each with the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent cell.
Mitosis Overview
Mitosis is a continuous process of cell division which occurs in all types of living cells.
Mitosis involves four basic phases – prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.
Mitosis is the process where the division of cell occurs by asexual reproduction.
In mitosis, the nuclear membrane is broken down, spindle fibres (microtubules) attach to the
chromatids at the centromere and pull apart the chromatids.
When the chromatids reach separate ends of the cells, the spindle fibres disintegrate and a
nuclear membrane rebuilds around the chromosomes making two nuclei.
Each nucleus is identical to the original nucleus as it was in G1.
Also read: Difference between haploid and diploid
Meiosis Overview
Meiosis is the form of nuclear cell division that results in daughter cells that have one half the
chromosome numbers as the original cell.
In organisms that are diploid, the end result is cells that are haploid. Each daughter cell gets
one complete set of chromosomes, i.e., one of each homologous pair of chromosomes.
In humans, this means the chromosome number is reduced from 46 to 23.
The only cells that undergo meiosis will become sperm or eggs.
The joining together of a sperm and egg during fertilization returns the number of the
chromosomes to 46.
Cells that undergo meiosis go through the cell cycle including the S phase so begin the
process with chromosomes that consist of two chromatids just as in mitosis.
Meiosis consists of meiosis I and meiosis II. In meiosis I homologous chromosomes are
separated into different nuclei.
This is the reduction division; chromosome number is cut in half. Meiosis II is very similar to
mitosis; chromatids are separated into separate nuclei.
As in mitosis, it is spindle fibres that “pull” the chromosomes and chromatids apart.
The end result of meiosis is four cells, each with one complete set of chromosomes instead
of two sets of chromosomes.
Also read: Significance of Meiosis
Similarities Between Mitosis and Meiosis
Both mitosis and meiosis takes place in the cell nuclei which can be observed under a
microscope
Mitosis and meiosis, both involve cell division
Both the processes occur in the M-phase of the cell cycle. In both cycles, the typical stages
are metaphase, anaphase, telophase and prophase
In both the cycles, synthesis of DNA takes place
Group 2 – Roles of Mitosis and Meiosis in the Cell
division
Mitosis is a process where a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells (cell division).
During mitosis one cell? divides once to form two identical cells. The major purpose of mitosis
is for growth and to replace worn out cells.
Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell
by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm
cells for sexual reproduction.
