What are the difference between mitosis and meiosis

Mitosis is the type of cell division which produces daughter cells which are genetically identical to the parent cells. This type of cell division is needed for growth and repair. In mitosis in human cells the parent and daughter cells each contain the full set of 46 chromosomes (23 pairs). In mitosis the 46 chromosomes in the parent cell are copied, creating a cell with double the amount of genetic material. This cell then divides into 2 genetically identical daughter cells each with one of each of the 23 chromosome pairs.  Meiosis is the type of cell division taking place in the sex organs (ovaries and testies). In this type of cell division 4 daughter are produced. Each of the 4 daughter cells is genetically different. In meiosis the 46 chromosomes in the parent cell are copied, this then splits into 2 cells in the same way as mitosis. These 2 cells each contain one of each of the 23 chromosome pairs. These 2 cells then divide again, this time the 23 chromosome pairs split. So each of the 4 daughter cells produced contain 1 chromosome from each of the 23 pairs. Thus means that each of the 4 daughter cells contain half the amount of the genetic information (23 chromosomes). This means when this cell combines with another cell during reproduction a cell with the full 46 chromosome is produced.  A simple way to remember this is that meiosis is the process if making me. 

Answered by Sian H. Biology tutor

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