Scribd
Upload
2 views

Cell division

Cell division occurs through mitosis and meiosis, each serving different purposes. Mitosis results in two genetically identical diploid daughter cells for growth and repair, while meiosis produces four genetically diverse haploid gametes for sexual reproduction. The processes differ in stages and outcomes, with meiosis involving two rounds of division.

Uploaded by

mythriswaminathan6009
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
2 views

Cell division

Cell division occurs through mitosis and meiosis, each serving different purposes. Mitosis results in two genetically identical diploid daughter cells for growth and repair, while meiosis produces four genetically diverse haploid gametes for sexual reproduction. The processes differ in stages and outcomes, with meiosis involving two rounds of division.

Uploaded by

mythriswaminathan6009
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 6

Cell Division: Mitosis vs.

Meiosis
Cell division is the process by which a parent cell duplicates its
genetic material and divides to create two or more daughter cells.
There are two main types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis. They
differ in the number of daughter cells produced and the final ploidy
(number of sets of chromosomes) of those daughter cells.

Mitosis
Mitosis is responsible for growth and repair in multicellular
organisms. It ensures that each daughter cell receives a complete
copy of the parent cell's genetic material. Here's a breakdown of
mitosis with diagrams:

Stages of Mitosis:

1. Prophase: Chromosomes condense and become visible. The


nuclear envelope begins to break down, and the mitotic spindle
starts to form.

Opens in a new window


en.wikipedia.org

Mitosis Prophase
2. Prometaphase: The nuclear envelope completely disappears.
Microtubules of the mitotic spindle attach to the kinetochores
(protein complexes) on the centromeres of chromosomes.
3. Metaphase: Chromosomes align at the equator of the cell, called
the metaphase plate.

Opens in a new window


www.britannica.com

Mitosis Metaphase
4. Anaphase: Sister chromatids separate and are pulled towards
opposite poles of the cell by the mitotic spindle fibers.

Opens in a new window


www.britannica.com

Mitosis Anaphase
5. Telophase: Nuclear envelopes reform around the separated
chromosomes at each pole. Chromosomes decondense and
become less visible. Cytokinesis (division of the cytoplasm)
occurs, dividing the cell into two daughter cells.
Opens in a new window
www.biologyonline.com

Mitosis Telophase

Outcomes of Mitosis:

Two daughter cells are produced.


Each daughter cell is genetically identical to the parent cell
(diploid - having two sets of chromosomes).

Meiosis
Meiosis is involved in sexual reproduction and is responsible for
producing gametes (sex cells) like sperm and egg cells. Meiosis
results in daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes
compared to the parent cell.

Stages of Meiosis (occurs in two meiotic divisions):

Meiosis I

1. Prophase I: Chromosomes condense and homologous


chromosomes (chromosomes with the same genes) pair up.
Crossing over, the exchange of genetic material between
homologous chromosomes, can occur.
Opens in a new window
www.britannica.com

Meiosis I Prophase
2. Metaphase I: Homologous chromosome pairs line up at the
metaphase plate.

Opens in a new window


passel2.unl.edu

Meiosis I Metaphase
3. Anaphase I: Homologous chromosomes separate and move
towards opposite poles of the cell. This is the key difference
between mitosis and meiosis I - sister chromatids remain attached
in mitosis.
Opens in a new window
microbenotes.com

Meiosis I Anaphase
4. Telophase I & Cytokinesis I: Nuclear envelopes may reform, and
the cytoplasm divides, producing two daughter cells. However,
these daughter cells are still haploid (having one set of
chromosomes) because homologous chromosomes have
separated.

Meiosis II

1. Prophase II & Metaphase II: Remaining chromosomes condense


further and align at the metaphase plate in each daughter cell
from Meiosis I.

Opens in a new window


cyberbridge.mcb.harvard.edu

Meiosis II Metaphase
2. Anaphase II: Sister chromatids separate and move towards
opposite poles. This resembles mitosis.
Opens in a new window byjus.com

Meiosis II Anaphase
3. Telophase II & Cytokinesis II: Nuclear envelopes reform around
the separated chromosomes, and the cytoplasm divides in each
daughter cell.

Outcomes of Meiosis:

Four daughter cells are produced from a single parent cell.


Each daughter cell is haploid (having one set of chromosomes)
due to the separation of homologous chromosomes in Meiosis I
and sister chromatids in Meiosis II.

In summary:

Mitosis is for growth and repair, producing genetically identical


daughter cells.
Meiosis is for sexual reproduction, producing genetically diverse
gametes with half the number of chromosomes.

You might also like