Question

Compare and contrast what happens in mitosis and meiosis and discuss the importance of each process to a living organism.

Answer 1

Mitosis results in two genetically identical diploid daughter cells and is essential for growth and repair, while meiosis produces four genetically diverse haploid gametes, necessary for sexual reproduction and genetic variation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Comparison of Mitosis and Meiosis

• In mitosis, a single cell division results in two genetically identical diploid daughter cells, with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell.
• This process is crucial for growth, development, and repair in multicellular organisms.
• In contrast, meiosis involves two rounds of cell division—Meiosis I and Meiosis II—resulting in four genetically unique haploid gametes that have half the number of chromosomes of the original cell.
• Meiosis is essential for sexual reproduction and contributes to genetic variation through mechanisms like crossing-over and independent assortment during Meiosis I.

• Another difference between meiosis and mitosis is the way they start; mitosis begins with a diploid cell, whereas meiosis I starts after DNA replication in a diploid cell that has undergone interphase.

Ultimately, meiosis generates diversity, which is advantageous for the survival and adaptation of species, while mitosis is essential for organismal maintenance and asexual reproduction.

Answer 2

Meiosis and mitosis describes the process by which cells divide,
either by asexual or sexual reproduction to produce a new organism.
Meiosis is a form of cell division that produces gametes in humans
these are egg cells and sperms, each with reduced or halved number of
chromosomes. The number of chromosomes is restored when two gametes
fuse together to form a zygote. A cell with two copies of each
chromosome is called diploid cell and a cell with one copy of each
chromosome is called a haploid cell. Meioses produces haploid daughter
cells that are genetically different from each other and from the
parent cell. However, mitosis is a form of cell division that produces
daughter cells identical to the parent during repair or growth. Each
cell contains the same genetic code as the parent cell, it is able to
do this because it has copied it’s own chromosomes prior to cell
division. Meiosis consists of two divisions whilst mitosis is followed
in one division; both these processes involve the stages of
interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

Meiosis allows cell variation and genetic differences between each
cell whereas mitosis is an exact replication of each cell. There are
three main ways meiosis produces genetic variation, this through
independent assortment, crossing over and random fertilization.

Why Is Mitosis And Meiosis Important To A Living OrganismThe cell is the basic unit of all life. All living things-- tigers, trees, elephants, and men-- are made up of cells. A cell is alive-- as alive as you are. It breathes, takes in food, and gets rid of waste. It grows and reproduces, or creates one of its own kind.Most cells reproduce by dividing, so that there are two cells where there once was one.Every living thing is made up of one or more cells, and each of these cells was produced by an already existing cell.