Question

consider the similarities and differences between meiosis and mitosis. which statements accurately describe both processes? select the three best answers.
the essence of mitosis is: copy dna, send one copy to each daughter cell.
in mitosis, sister chromatids crossover and recombine. in meiosis, non - sister chromatids crossover and recombine.
meiosis ii is essentially the same process as mitosis, except for two things: cells are haploid in meiosis ii, and in meiosis ii sister chromatids are no longer genetically identical.
the most important difference between meiosis and mitosis is that homologs synapse in meiosis but stay independent of each other in mitosis.
dna replication occurs before mitosis, before meiosis i, and then again before meiosis ii.
both mitosis and meiosis require two rounds of division to be complete, meaning that in each process a single starting cell produces a total of four daughter cells.

Explanation:

• First statement: Mitosis involves DNA replication and distributing one copy to each daughter cell. This is a key feature of mitosis.
• Third statement: Meiosis II is similar to mitosis. The cells in meiosis II are haploid (unlike mitosis which has diploid cells in animals, for example). Also, due to crossing - over in meiosis I, sister chromatids in meiosis II are no longer genetically identical.
• Fourth statement: Homologous chromosomes synapse (pair up) in meiosis (during prophase I) which is a major difference from mitosis where homologs do not synapse.

Now let's analyze the wrong statements:

• Second statement: In mitosis, there is no crossing - over. Crossing - over occurs between non - sister chromatids in meiosis (prophase I).
• Fifth statement: DNA replication occurs before mitosis and before meiosis I, but not before meiosis II.
• Sixth statement: Mitosis has one round of division and produces 2 daughter cells. Meiosis has two rounds of division and produces 4 daughter cells.

Answer:

• The essence of mitosis is: Copy DNA, send one copy to each daughter cell.
• Meiosis II is essentially the same process as mitosis, except for two things: cells are haploid in Meiosis II, and in Meiosis II sister chromatids are no longer genetically identical.
• The most important difference between meiosis and mitosis is that homologs synapse in meiosis but stay independent of each other in mitosis.