What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

Mitosis and meiosis are both types of cell division.Cells that divide by mitosis produce 2 identical daughter cells - these cells have the same number of chromosomes. These cells are important for growth and repair (because they are exactly the same as the cells they replace).Cells that divide by meiosis produce 4 daughter cells - these cells have half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell did. These cells are important for reproduction, otherwise gametes would contain the same number of chromosomes as a parent cell and this would double the number of chromosomes across each generation when fertilisation occurs.

AB
Answered by Abbey B. Biology tutor

2964 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Explain how blood glucose levels are controlled in people who do not have diabetes


What is osmosis?


What is the product of anaerobic respiration?


What is DNA made of?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning