Mitosis and meiosis are both processes involved in cell division, but they have some key differences:
1. Purpose: Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. It is used for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in organisms. Meiosis, on the other hand, is a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. It is used for sexual reproduction to produce gametes (sperm and egg cells).
2. Number of divisions: Mitosis involves one round of cell division, resulting in two daughter cells. Meiosis involves two rounds of cell division, resulting in four daughter cells.
3. Genetic variation: Mitosis produces genetically identical daughter cells, while meiosis produces genetically diverse daughter cells due to the process of crossing over and independent assortment of chromosomes.
4. Chromosome number: Mitosis results in daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Meiosis results in daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
5. Occurrence: Mitosis occurs in somatic cells (body cells) for growth and repair, while meiosis occurs in germ cells (reproductive cells) for sexual reproduction.
Overall, mitosis is a process of cell division that results in identical daughter cells for growth and repair, while meiosis is a process of cell division that results in genetically diverse daughter cells for sexual reproduction.