Question

Compare and contrast meiosis and mitosis.

(Please provide a full explanation of both, their similarities and differences, and an image to represent them. THANKS!)

Answer 1

Question

Mitosis is the process of cell division that result in the formation of identical daughter cells having same chromosome number as present in the parent cell. Mitosis is required for the development and growth, tissue repair and development of embryo. On the other hand, meiosis is the process where single cell divide twice to produce four daughter cells that have half of the chromosome as compare to parent cell. Therefore, mitosis is known as equational division as the chromosome number remain same in parent and daughter cell and meiosis is known as reductional division as number of chromosomes reduced to its half in the daughter cells.  

The mitosis include four basic stages :

I. Prophase

II. Metaphase

III. Anaphase

IV. Telophase

V. Cytokinesis

The meiosis include two division : meiosis I and meiosis II

Meiosis I have following stages:

I. Prophase I

Prophase I have following stages:

a. Leptotene

b. Zygotene

c. Pachytene

d. Diplotene

e. Diakinesis

II. Metaphase I

III. Anaphase I

IV. Telophase I

Meiosis II have following stages:

I. Prophase II

II. Metaphase II

III. Anaphase II

IV. Telophase II

V. Cytokineis

Both mitosis and meiosis I have interphase stage before their prophase stage where cell get prepare for the cell division. The interphase stage is divided into 3 phase:

G1, S, G2

The "S phase " is the phase where cell duplicate it's DNA.

The similarities between the mitosis and meiosis are:

I. Both produce new cells

II. Both undergo interphase stage where cell duplicate it's DNA.

III. Both start from diploid cell.

IV. Both are process of nuclear division followed by cytoplasm division.

V. Mitosis is similar to meiosis II.

VI. Major stage of both include : interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

VI. Both process end in cytokineis

The differences between mitosis and meiosis are following :

I. The number of nuclear division is 1 in mitosis and number of nuclear division is 2 in meiosis.

II. Mitosis involve producing 2 cells having same chromosome as of parent cell and meiosis involve producing of 4 daughter cells having half chromosome number.

III. The daughter cells are identical to the parent cell in mitosis and daughter cells are not identical to parent cell In meiosis.

IV. The mitosis takes place in mitosis and meiosis take place in germ cell.

V. Genetic variation is present in meiosis and not present in mitosis.

VI. Stages require to complete the cycle in mitosis include interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase. On the other hand stages require to complete meiosis include interphase, prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I, telophase I, prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II and telophase II.

V. Duration of prophase is short in mitosis as compared to prophase in meiosis.

VI. Synopsis and crossing over is absent in mitosis and present in meiosis.

VII. Mitosis is involved in asexual reproduction and meiosis is involved in sexual reproduction.

VIII. Chiasmata absent in mitosis and present in meiosis.

Figure : comparison of mitosis and meiosis