Cell division is essential in the life cycles of all cells. It allows living organisms to reproduce and therefore not die out. There are two major steps to cell division: nuclear division and cytokinesis. Within nuclear division are two different types: mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis is a form of asexual reproduction in which one diploid parent cell is divided into two identical diploid cells. On the other hand, meiosis is an example of sexual reproduction, in which two diploid parent cells both contribute genetic material to form four haploid cells which each have half the genetic material contained in the parent cell. Mitosis and meiosis are similar in that they both result in the separation of existing cells into new ones, but they are different
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While mitosis, an asexual process, is required for the growth, development, and repair of a cell, meiosis, a sexual process, creates genetic diversity through sexual reproduction. Mitosis can occur in any organism, but meiosis only occurs in humans, animals, plants, and fungi. Another difference between mitosis and meiosis is that the daughter cells produced by mitosis are genetically identical, unlike the daughter cells produced by meiosis which are genetically different. Crossing over, which is the process of the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, only occurs in meiosis during prophase I, because homologous chromosomes are not present in mitosis. In mitotic metaphase, individual chromosomes composed of two identical sister chromatids line up in the middle of the cell, but in metaphase I, homologous chromosome pairs, which consist of four genetically different sister chromatids, line up in the middle of the cell. In mitotic anaphase, the separation of sister chromatids takes place, however in anaphase I of meiosis, the separation of homologous chromosomes occurs. Finally, in mitotic telophase and into cytokinesis, two diploid daughter cells are produced in mitosis. However, meiosis produces four haploid daughter cells. Mitosis creates anything but sex cells, but on the other hand meiosis creates only sex cells, which includes male sperm cells and female egg
While mitosis, an asexual process, is required for the growth, development, and repair of a cell, meiosis, a sexual process, creates genetic diversity through sexual reproduction. Mitosis can occur in any organism, but meiosis only occurs in humans, animals, plants, and fungi. Another difference between mitosis and meiosis is that the daughter cells produced by mitosis are genetically identical, unlike the daughter cells produced by meiosis which are genetically different. Crossing over, which is the process of the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, only occurs in meiosis during prophase I, because homologous chromosomes are not present in mitosis. In mitotic metaphase, individual chromosomes composed of two identical sister chromatids line up in the middle of the cell, but in metaphase I, homologous chromosome pairs, which consist of four genetically different sister chromatids, line up in the middle of the cell. In mitotic anaphase, the separation of sister chromatids takes place, however in anaphase I of meiosis, the separation of homologous chromosomes occurs. Finally, in mitotic telophase and into cytokinesis, two diploid daughter cells are produced in mitosis. However, meiosis produces four haploid daughter cells. Mitosis creates anything but sex cells, but on the other hand meiosis creates only sex cells, which includes male sperm cells and female egg