Question

name emily wong puz class/period 9 date 11/01/25
contrasting mitosis and meiosis
directions: compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis by answering the questions below
1 number of cells at beginning of division?
2 is parent cell haploid or diploid?
3 number of cells at end of division?
4 are daughter cells haploid or diploid?
5 are daughter cells identical to parent cell?
6 are daughter cells identical to each other?
7 in humans, # of chromosomes at beginning of division?
8 in humans, # of chromosomes at end of division?
9 how many divisions occur?
10 in what type of cells does the division occur?
11 what is the purpose of this type of division?

Explanation:

• Number of cells at beginning of division: Both mitosis and meiosis start with one cell.
• Parent cell ploidy: Mitosis occurs in diploid body cells (except gametes in some cases, but generally somatic), meiosis in diploid reproductive cells (to produce haploid gametes).
• Number of cells at end of division: Mitosis gives 2 daughter cells, meiosis 4.
• Daughter cell ploidy: Mitosis daughter cells are diploid (same as parent somatic cell), meiosis daughter cells (gametes) are haploid.
• Identity to parent cell: Mitosis daughter cells are identical (for growth, repair), meiosis not (due to recombination and reduction in chromosome number).
• Identity to each other: Mitosis daughter cells identical (clones for tissue maintenance), meiosis not (genetic variation through crossing - over and independent assortment).
• Chromosomes in humans at start: 46 (diploid) for both (as start with diploid cell), but meiosis reduces.
• Chromosomes in humans at end: Mitosis 46 (diploid daughter), meiosis 23 (haploid gametes).
• Divisions: Mitosis 1 division, meiosis 2 (meiosis I and II).
• Cell type: Mitosis in body (somatic) cells, meiosis in reproductive (germ) cells.
• Purpose: Mitosis for growth, repair, asexual reproduction (in some organisms), meiosis for sexual reproduction (producing gametes with genetic variation).

Answer:

1. Mitosis: 1, Meiosis: 1
2. Mitosis: diploid (somatic cells), Meiosis: diploid (germ cells)
3. Mitosis: 2, Meiosis: 4
4. Mitosis: diploid, Meiosis: haploid
5. Mitosis: Yes, Meiosis: No
6. Mitosis: Yes, Meiosis: No
7. Mitosis: 46, Meiosis: 46
8. Mitosis: 46, Meiosis: 23
9. Mitosis: 1, Meiosis: 2
10. Mitosis: Body cells, Meiosis: Reproductive cells
11. Mitosis: Repair (and growth), Meiosis: Reproduction