Biology

Mitosis is defined as the process of cellular reproduction leading new cells identical in terms of the number and pattern of genes and chromosomes. Meiosis on the other hand is form of cell reproduction that leads to the formation of cells having different gene patterns as only 50 percent of chromosomes are from the original cell (Rieder, 1999).

Both mitosis and meiosis are similar in that as methods of reproduction both result into new cells or organisms. In mitosis, this is realized by splitting the cell into two identical cells. On the other hand, by combining two different cells and then dividing, meiosis reproduces new cells. Thus, both lead to growth and reproduction on cell-based organisms (Cregan, 2010).

Nevertheless, these two reproduction methods are quite different. First, mitosis, as split of cells oversees growth and replenishment of body organs and tissues especially in multi-cellular organisms (Rieder, 1999). This is because it leads to creation of identical cells for tissue formation while meiosis involves creation of ovum and sperm cells for the purposes of reproduction.

Secondly mitosis and meiosis have the resulting daughter cells being of different chromosomal patterns. Mitosis involves the splitting of a cell thus it produces daughter cells with two complete set of chromosomes and of the same genetic markup (Cregan, 2010). On the contrary, due to combing and splitting, meiosis have its daughter cells having only 50 of the original cells chromosomes.

In addition, mitosis is best suited for reproduction process by single cell organisms. This is because the process ensures identical reproduction of cells both in genes and number of chromosomes. On the other hand, meiosis can for multi-cellar organism and cannot be useful for tissue replenishment.