1. Mitosis:
* Parent cell: Has a diploid number of chromosomes (2n), meaning two sets of chromosomes.
* Daughter cells: Each daughter cell receives an identical copy of the parent cell's chromosomes, also containing a diploid number (2n).
In simple terms: The parent cell splits its chromosomes into two equal sets, giving one set to each of the two new daughter cells.
Example: A human cell has 46 chromosomes. After mitosis, each of the two new cells will also have 46 chromosomes.
2. Meiosis:
* Parent cell: Has a diploid number of chromosomes (2n).
* Daughter cells: Each daughter cell receives half the number of chromosomes from the parent cell, becoming haploid (n).
In simple terms: The parent cell goes through two rounds of division, reducing the number of chromosomes by half in each daughter cell.
Example: A human cell has 46 chromosomes. After meiosis, each of the four new cells will have 23 chromosomes.
Key Differences:
* Mitosis produces two genetically identical daughter cells, maintaining the original number of chromosomes. This is used for growth and repair.
* Meiosis produces four genetically unique daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes. This is used for sexual reproduction.
It's important to remember:
* The chromosomes themselves are duplicated before either mitosis or meiosis begins.
* The process of cell division ensures that each new cell receives a complete set of genetic information.
