Final answer:
Mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid daughter cells, while meiosis results in four genetically unique haploid cells through two rounds of cell division. Meiosis involves crossing-over and random assortment of chromosomes, increasing genetic diversity. Nondisjunction during meiosis can lead to chromosome disorders.
Step-by-step explanation:
Mitosis and meiosis are two processes by which cells divide. Mitosis results in two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell, making it crucial for growth, development, and tissue repair. It consists of phases such as prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis. On the other hand, meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that produces four genetically distinct daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell, facilitating sexual reproduction.
During meiosis, chromosomes undergo a series of events: they replicate during interphase, condense and pair up in prophase I, align at the equatorial plane during metaphase I, separate to opposite poles during anaphase I, and finally, two rounds of cell division occur resulting in four haploid cells in meiosis II. Chromosome disorders can arise from nondisjunction, which is the failure of chromosome pairs to separate properly during meiosis, leading to conditions such as Down syndrome, Klinefelter syndrome, and Turner syndrome.
Meiosis includes two cell divisions, specifically called Meiosis I and Meiosis II. Meiosis I is known for its unique events, such as crossing-over during prophase I and random assortment of chromosomes, which contribute to genetic diversity. Meiosis II resembles mitosis, but it starts with haploid cells and ends with haploid gametes. The main differences between mitosis and meiosis include the number of cell divisions, the number of daughter cells produced, and the genetic variability of the resulting cells.