what is mitosis and meiosis?
Mitosis and meiosis are two types of cell division, but they serve different purposes in living organisms.
| Basis | Mitosis | Meiosis |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Growth, repair, and replacement of cells | Formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells) |
| Number of divisions | 1 | 2 |
| Number of daughter cells | 2 | 4 |
| Chromosome number | Remains the same | Reduced to half |
| Genetic makeup | Daughter cells are identical | Daughter cells are genetically different |
| Occurs in | Body (somatic) cells | Reproductive cells |
Example:
Mitosis: Helps heal a wound by producing new skin cells.
Meiosis: Produces sperm and egg cells for sexual reproduction.
In simple terms: Mitosis creates identical body cells, while meiosis creates genetically varied reproductive cells.