Describe the differences between mitosis and meiosis.

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Understanding the difference between Mitosis and Meiosis is imperative. Let us start with the definitions of each.

Meiosis

Meiosis refers to a cell division type, which results in the four daughter cells formation, each one with half the chromosomes like the parent cell.

Mitosis is a cell duplication process during which a cell gives rise to two genetically indistinguishable daughter cells. The term mitosis is generally used to describe the distribution and duplication of chromosomes.

Mitosis

Mitosis refers to the cell division type, resulting in the formation of two daughter cells with a similar number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Meiosis is a specialized cell division type that diminishes the number of chromosomes by half, creating the four haploid cells where each one is genetically distinct from the parent cells that give rise to them.

Differences between Mitosis and Meiosis

Comparison Parameters	Mitosis	Meiosis
Cell it produces	It creates somatic or body cells	It creates germ or sex cells
Where it occurs	It occurs in all organisms except viruses	It occurs in plants, animals, and fungi
Reproduction Mode	Asexual Reproduction	Sexual Reproduction
Discovered by	It was discovered by Walther Flemming	It was discovered by Oscar Hertwig
Function	Its function is to general growth and repair and cell reproduction	Its function is genetic different through sexual reproduction
Number of chromosomes	It produces diploid cells that are 46 chromosomes	It produces haploid cells including 23 chromosomes
Stages	It consists of one stage	It consists of two stages
Interphase	Here each chromosome replicates	Here, chromosomes are not visible but the DBA has been replicated
Prophase Length	Its Prophase length is short	Its Prophase I length is longer
Cell Divisions Number	One cell division including 4 stages in total	Two cell divisions including 8 stages in total
Crossing over/ Recombination	No crossing over/ recombination in prophase	Crossing over/ Recombination of chromosomes during the prophase I
Anaphase	During the anaphase, the sister chromatids move to the cell’s opposite ends.	During anaphase I, the sister chromatids move collectively to the same cell pole whereas, during anaphase II, the sister chromatids are separated to the cell’s opposite ends.
Metaphase	During metaphase, individual chromosomes line up on the equator of the cell	During Metaphase I, the chromosome pairs line up on the equator of the cell.
Cytokinesis	It occurs in the Telophase	It occurs in the Telophase I and Telophase II
Ploidy	It creates the diploid daughter cells	It creates the haploid daughter cells
Number of cells created	Two daughter cells are created as a result	Four daughter cells are created as an outcome
Genetics	Here, daughter cells are genetically identical	Here, daughter cells are genetically dissimilar

Bottom Line!

Mitosis is basically a continuous cell division process that occurs in all living cells. In contrast, meiosis is a nuclear cell division, resulting in the daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the original cells. Both have several differences that we have compiled above. Hope it gave you a clear idea about both the processes!

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