Mitosis and Meiosis: Definition, Difference, Similarities

The process of cell division is vital for producing new species from a single parent cell. In a Unicellular organism, the cell division process generates daughter cells. But in multicellular organisms, cell division increases growth and replaces worn-out cells from the body. This is done through two processes Mitosis and Meiosis. We are going to study in detail the cell division process of mitosis and meiosis.

Keyterms: Cell Division, Cell , Embryo, Chromosome, DNA, Chromatid, Allele, Meiosis, Mitosis

Read More: Euchromatin Vs Heterochromatin 

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Mitosis and Meiosis

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Mitosis and Meiosis are two types of cell division. Cell division is a process by which new cells are generated, and through this cell division, a living thing grows and develops. The cell reproduction process is different in a unicellular and multicellular organism.

Mitosis is a process of replication or duplication of chromosomes. Two identical daughter cells are produced through this process. This process is further controlled by several genes. Any kind of irregularities in the genes may cause serious health issues like cancer.

Meiosis is another process of cell division, which creates copies of the same number of chromosomes in humans. This process results in the formation of sex cells. This is a two-step cell division procedure, which reduces the number of chromosomes by half, that is 46 to 23. Therefore the new human embryo has 46 chromosomes, which are formed by the fusion of the egg and sperm. Meiosis has a probability to exhibit genetic variations from DNA shuffling.

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Overview

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Mitosis Overview

• Mitosis is the process of cell duplication and distribute cells
• This mode of reproduction is asexual
• The Nuclei take 4 stages to form. These stages are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.
• In this process, two diploid cells are formed.
• After the sister chromatids get separated, the spindle fibers get disconnected.

Meiosis Overview

• Meiosis is a sexual mode of cell division
• The number of chromosomes in the daughter cells is half of the number present in the parent cells.
• The chromosomes formed are Eukaryotic.
• S-Phase is dominant in this form of cell reproduction
• The ultimate result of the Meiosis process is either human sperm or egg.

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Difference between Mitosis and Meiosis

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The differences between Mitosis and Meiosis are enlisted below.

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Similarities Between Mitosis and Meiosis

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Besides both being cell division processes, there are some other similarities between these two.

• The synthesis of DNA is primarily common in both
• Once formed, the cardiac tissue or the nervous system cells will not replicate its daughter or sister cells through mitosis or meiosis.
• The methods of cell division of Mitosis and Meiosis are visible only under an electron microscope

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Things to remember

• Mitosis and Meiosis are two different processes of cell division
• Meiosis is for the genetic variation and is required for the continuity of the living organism.
• It plays an important role in repairing the genetic defect in germline cells.
• Mitosis is for the growth and development of cells.

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Previous Year Questions

1. Meiosis results in 
2. At which stage of meiosis does the genetic constitution of gametes is finally decided?
3. During anaphase I of meiosis
4. During pachytene stage of meiosis, the chromosomes appear
5. Identify the wrong statement about meiosis.
6. The stage of meiosis in which pairing of homologous chromosomes starts, is called? [UPSEE 2016]
7. The exchange of segments of non-sister chromatids between homologous pair is? [DUET 2010]
8. Which of the following stages is the longest in animals? [ JIPMER 1996]
9. The largest phase of meiosis-I is? [WBJEE-2011]
10. In meiosis, synapsis occurs during?
11. In which stage of meiosis crossing over takes place?
12. Synapsis occurs in ...... phase of meiosis? [BCECE 2004]
13. Meiosis can be best studied in [CUCET 2011]
14. During _________stage of meiosis I, crossing over take place. [COMEDK UGET 2007]
15. During meiosis -I, the number of chromosomes is? [JKCET 2015]
16. Polytene chromosomes were discovered in...[BHU UET 2012]
17. During the meiotic division, the:...[BHU UET 2005]
18. In which region of the interphase chromosome does transcription take place ?​...[CUCET 2009]
19. Recombination between homologous chromosomes is completed by the end of...[CUCET 2009]
20. Puffs of polytene chromosomes are specially concentrated with...[COMEDK UGET 2009]