What are 5 major differences between mitosis and meiosis?

Introduction to Mitosis and Meiosis

Cell division is a fundamental process for life. It is useful not only to generate new cells but also to help in growth and development. This cell division can take place through 2 different modes - Mitosis and Meiosis. We are about to look at a few characteristics, the basic definitions, and the difference between mitosis and meiosis. 

Cell reproduction is the process of creating new species using a single-parent cell. However, this process is different in unicellular and multicellular organisms. Unicellular organisms perform cell reproduction or division to generate daughter cells. Multicellular organisms perform cell division to enhance growth and replace worn-out cells from the body. 

To put it straight, mitosis creates new body cells, whereas meiosis generates sperm and egg cells. 

Mitosis Overview

1. Cell duplication and distribution is the aim of Mitosis.

2. This is an asexual mode of reproduction.  

3. Nuclei form in 4 stages namely prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

4. 2 diploid cells are formed. 

5. Spindle fibers disconnect after sister chromatids get separated. 

Meiosis Overview

1. Meiosis is a form of sexual reproduction.  

2. The resulting daughter cells are reduced in their chromosome number by half. 

3. Eukaryotic chromosomes are formed. 

4. Similar to mitosis, S-Phase is dominant in the meiosis form of cell replication.

5. A cell undergoing meiosis will either become human sperm or an egg. 

Differences Between Mitosis and Meiosis in Detail

Mitosis is a core process that replicates all of its content, including duplication of its chromosomes. The result is two identical daughter cells. Mitosis is a critical process to life, and hence this is controlled by several genes. 

If the genes are not regulated properly, it might cause serious health issues in humans, such as cancer. 

Meiosis, on the other side, will create copies that have the same number of chromosomes in humans (in all generations). Meiosis is a two-step procedure, reducing the chromosome number by half. The result of this process is the formation of egg and sperm cells, with chromosome counts from 46 to 23. This is a reason why the human embryo has 46 chromosomes from birth (conception of egg and sperm). Chances are likely in meiosis to exhibit genetic variations from DNA shuffling.

Following is a table to quickly describe the differences in mitosis vs meiosis.

Difference Between Mitosis and Meiosis Table in Tabulated Form

In case of time constraints, students can refer to this table directly. This table will also come in handy while revising the topic. You may get information about many such topics of Biology on Vedantu's website for free.

Similarities Between Mitosis and Meiosis

Apart from its cell division or reproductive processes, there are 3-4 similarities between meiosis and mitosis. DNA synthesis is primarily common to both. If already formed, the cardiac tissues and nervous system cells will never replicate their daughter/sister cells either through meiosis or mitosis. Both these methods of reproduction are visible under an electron microscope. 

Fun Facts about Mitosis

Some very interesting facts about Mitosis are given below to make the learning process interesting for you:

• Mistakes made during mitotic cell division can result in changes in the DNA

• Two genetically identical daughter cells are generated as a result of mitosis

• Mitotic cell division takes place in four phases namely

• Prophase 

• Metaphase 

• Anaphase 

• Telophase

• The structure responsible for moving the chromosomes during the process of mitosis is known as the spindle

Fun facts about Meiosis

Some facts about meiosis that you may find interesting are given below:

• Meiotic cell division takes place during reproduction only

• Chromosome numbers are halved during meiotic cell division

• Every individual is unique due to genetic variation that takes place during meiosis

• In meiosis, diploid cells are converted to haploid and again converted back to being diploid.

• Even a minor error during the meiotic cell division can result in a permanent impact on human development

• A mutation is possible during meiotic cell division

Conclusion

Both mitosis and meiosis have their roles in human development and genetic message transmission. Credits to ‘Walther Flemming’ for the discovery of mitosis and helping new cells grow and nurture. Also, thanks to the brain of Oscar Hertwig for uncovering meiosis and making continuity of required cells possible with definite DNA variants.

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