Mitosis Vs Meiosis: Comparing the Differences and Similarities between Mitosis and Meiosis

You will learn about the similarities and differences between Mitosis and Meiosis in cells as we compare and contrast the two processes of cell division to help you understand.

Differences between Mitosis and Meiosis in terms of number of chromosomes

1. Mitosis produces two identical daughter cells with 46 chromosomes in humans whereas Meiosis produces four genetically variable daughter cells with each having 23 chromosomes in human cells
2. Mitosis has a diploid number of chromosomes in animal cells whereas meiosis produces a haploid number of chromosomes
3. Meiosis is a reduction process because the number of chromosomes is reduced by half whereas no reduction occurs in mitosis
4. Errors in the process of Meiosis leads to chromosomal abnormalities such as down syndrome (trisomy 21)
5. Homologous chromosomes line up at equator in Metaphase stage in Meiosis but do not occur in Mitosis

Differences between Mitosis and Meiosis in terms of daughter cells produced

1. 2 daughter cells are produced in Mitosis whereas 4 daughter cells are produced in Meiosis
2. The daughter cells produced in Mitosis are identical in genetic composition but the daughter cells produced in Meiosis are genetically variable

Differences between Mitosis and Meiosis in terms of types of cells undergoing the process

1. Mitosis occurs in somatic cells (body cells) whereas Meiosis occurs in sex cells (gametes)
2. Meiosis produces spermatozoa and ova whereas all the other cells of the body are produced by mitosis
3. Crossing over of chromosomes does not occur in Mitosis but it does occur in meiosis
4. There is no genetic variability in Mitosis but genetic variability occurs in meiosis

Difference between Mitosis and Meiosis in terms of number of stages

1. In Mitosis the centromeres divide at the anaphase stage but in Meiosis the centromeres do not in anaphase 1
2. Mitosis undergoes one cell division to produce two daughter cells whereas Meiosis undergoes two cell divisions to produce four daughter cells

Similarities between Meiosis and Mitosis

1. Mitosis and meiosis are both types of cell division
2. Mitosis and meiosis are part of the M-phase of the cell cycle
3. Mitosis and meiosis both occur in the nucleus of a cell
4. Both Mitosis and Meiosis have prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase stages
5. Both Meiosis and Mitosis leads to the multiplication of cells
6. The cells of the Nervous tissue and cardiac muscle cells do not under mitosis nor meiosis as they do not divide once they have been formed
7. Both Mitosis and Meiosis can be observed under a light microscope
8. DNA synthesis both occur in Mitosis and Meiosis