Comparing and contrasting mitosis and meiosis

By definition mitosis is the process of cellular division leading new cells identical both in the number and pattern of genes and chromosomes. On the other side, meiosis, as a form of cell reproduction leads to the formation of cells of different gene types with only 50 percent of chromosomes from the original cell.

Mitosis and meiosis have the similarity that they are both methods of cell division leading new cells or organisms. By splitting into two cells, mitosis leads to the generation of a new cell identical to the mother cell and to each other. On the other hand, by combining two different cells and then dividing, meiosis reproduces new cells. Therefore, they both function to oversee growth and reproduction on all cell based organisms.

However, mitosis is mainly used for growth and replenishment of body organs and tissues particularly in multi-cellular organisms. This process also serves for the creation of identical cells for tissue formation. Meiosis on its side is mainly for the creation of ovum and sperm cells for the purposes of reproduction.
Another difference between mitosis and meiosis is the chromosomal patterns of the resulting daughter cells. Mitosis involves the splitting of a cell thus it produces daughter cells with two complete set of chromosomes and of the same genetic make. For meiosis however, each daughter has only 50 of the original cells chromosomes as it involves combining and splitting of the cells.

Lastly, mitosis involves identical reproduction of cells both in genes and number of chromosomes. This process is therefore important in reproduction processes that require the maintenance of chromosome set of the original cell in the new cells. Therefore, unlike meiosis, mitosis is applicable to the reproduction of single cell organisms.

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