Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.
Meiosis is a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, as in the production of gametes and plant spores.
| Feature | Mitosis | Meiosis |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Cellular reproduction, growth, and repair | Sexual reproduction |
| Type of Cells | Somatic (body) cells | Germ cells (producing gametes) |
| Number of Divisions | One | Two (Meiosis I and Meiosis II) |
| Number of Daughter Cells | Two | Four |
| Chromosome Number | Maintained (diploid, 2n) | Halved (haploid, n) |
| Genetic Variation | No (except for rare mutations) | Yes (through crossing over and independent assortment) |
| Pairing of Homologous Chromosomes | No | Yes (during Prophase I) |
| Crossing Over | No | Yes (during Prophase I) |
| Daughter Cells Genetically | Identical | Different |
| Stages | Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase | Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, Telophase I, Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II |
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