Mitosis Vs. Meiosis
What is the difference between Mitosis and Meiosis? All cells follow a process of division and this process is very relevant in the life cycle of the cells.
Cell division accounts for 10% of the cell cycle. It is a process by which a stem cell divides into two or more daughter cells.
Below this post is all about the difference between mitosis and meiosis.
Difference between Mitosis and Meiosis
There are three main types of cell division processes: binary fission, mitosis, and meiosis.
Next, we will explain to you what is difference between mitosis and meiosis since they probably have left it to him like a task in school.
Note: Binary fission carries out in prokaryotic cells, i.e. in unicellular organisms lacking cell nuclei.
Only eukaryotic cells, which are the ones with multicellular organisms; whose cells contain complex structures within their membranes, experience mitosis or meiosis.
(All these processes are methods of reproduction and replication of DNA ).
Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its nucleus, resulting in two identical sets known as ” daughter cells”.
Essentially, a cell ( the stem cell ) divides into two cells ( the daughter cells ), which are identical to it.
This is done by dividing the nucleus of the original cell into two parts.
The daughter cells contain the same number of chromosomes as the cell mother.
A mitosis is a form of asexual reproduction. This allows an organism to clone exact copies of the original cell.
This method of reproduction is quick and effective, however, does not give rise to diversity; since all products are identical to the cell from which they originate.
Meiosis
Meiosis, on the other hand, is a type of sexual reproduction. It is a special type of cell division necessary for sexual reproduction in eukaryotes.
The cells resulting from meiosis are gametes or spores. Gametes are sperm and eggs in most organisms (the sex cells), common in both animals and plants.
In the process of meiosis, a cell containing two copies of each chromosome, one from the mother and one from the father
( the zygote – which is a female ovum fertilized by male sperm ), produces four cells containing a copy of each chromosome.
The result is a unique blend of maternal and paternal DNA.
This allows offspring to be genetically different from either parent. Meiosis introduces genetic diversity within the population.
Meiosis differs from mitosis in important aspects. First, because it produces four daughter cells with half the chromosomes of the original cells;
while mitosis produces two daughter cells with a number of chromosomes identical to the original cell.
Second, meiosis leaves room for genetic diversity; since it allows the mixture of chromosomes, whereas mitosis does not occur.
Finally, mitosis is a method of asexual reproduction, whereas meiosis is sexual.
Key differences between Mitosis and Meiosis
- Mitosis is asexual, while meiosis is sexual.
- In mitosis, the stem cell divides into two; while in meiosis it is divides into four.
- In meiosis, daughter cells possess only half the chromosomes of the original cells; while in mitosis the number of chromosomes is the same in both mother cells and daughters.
- Mitosis occurs in all organisms with eukaryotic cells, whereas meiosis only occurs in organisms whose reproduction is sexual (that is, they need both parents).
