Here's a summary of the key differences between mitosis and meiosis:
Mitosis
- Purpose: Cell division for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction
- Number of daughter cells: 2
- Genetic makeup of daughter cells: Identical to the parent cell
- Number of chromosome replications: Once
- Number of rounds of division: One
- Synapsis: Does not occur
- Crossing over: Does not occur
- Independent assortment of chromosomes: Does not occur
Meiosis
- Purpose: Sexual reproduction
- Number of daughter cells: 4
- Genetic makeup of daughter cells: Genetically distinct from the parent cell and from each other
- Number of chromosome replications: Twice
- Number of rounds of division: Two
- Synapsis: Occurs during prophase I
- Crossing over: Occurs during prophase I
- Independent assortment of chromosomes: Occurs during metaphase I
