Mitosis Vs Meiosis

What is Difference between Mitosis and Meiosis?

Differences between mitosis and meiosis are given on the basis of various criteria.

Mitosis Meiosis
Occurs in body or somatic cells, continuously Occurs in germ cells during the process of gamete formation
Single division process Two divisions, one-way process, it cannot be said to engage in a cell cycle as mitosis
A mitotic mother cell can be either haploid or diploid Meiocyte is always diploid
A single division of the chromosomes and the nucleus A single division of the chromosomes but a double division of the nucleus
Mitosis is preceded by interphase, especially S-phase in which the amount of DNA is duplicated by replication. Only meiosis I is preceded by S-phase, in interphase of meiosis II there is no replication of DNA.
The number of chromosomes remains the same in mitosis The number of chromosomes is reduced to half
Homologous chromosomes do not pair Homologous chromosomes undergo synapsis to form bivalents, in prophase 1.
Chaismata are not formed Chaismata may be formed
No crossing over Crossing over occur
The centromeres split during anaphase The centromeres do not split during anaphase I, but during anaphase II
Telophase always occurs The first telophase is sometimes omitted
Results in two daughter cells Results in four daughter cells
Daughter cells are identical to the parent cell Daughter cells are genetically different from parent cells
Significance of mitosis – Growth, Repair, Asexual reproduction Significance of meiosis – Creation of genetic variation