Mitosis and meiosis are two types of cell division that occur in living organisms. Here are the key differences between the two:
Mitosis:
- Involves one cell division that results in two identical daughter cells.
- Results in diploid daughter cells, meaning the chromosome number remains the same as the parent cell.
- Daughter cells are genetically identical.
- Occurs in all organisms except viruses.
- Creates all body cells (somatic) apart from the germ cells (eggs and sperm) .
- Prophase is much shorter.
- No recombination/crossing over occurs in prophase.
- In metaphase, individual chromosomes (pairs of chromatids) line up along the equator.
- During anaphase, the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles.
Meiosis:
- Involves two successive cell divisions that result in four daughter cells.
- Results in haploid daughter cells, meaning the chromosome number is halved from the parent cell.
- Daughter cells are genetically different.
- Occurs only in animals, plants, and fungi.
- Creates germ cells (eggs and sperm) only.
- Prophase I takes much longer.
- Involves recombination/crossing over of chromosomes in prophase I.
- In metaphase I, pairs of chromosomes line up along the equator.
- During anaphase I, the sister chromatids move together to the same pole, while in anaphase II, the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles.
In summary, mitosis produces two identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell, while meiosis produces four genetically different daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Mitosis is involved in creating all body cells except germ cells, while meiosis is involved in creating germ cells only.
