Mitosis Vs. Meiosis: Similarities And Differences

Mitosis v. Meiosis Biology is the study of life and the processes that a life form undergoes. Two very important biological processes in the field of biology are mitosis and meiosis. These two biological processes comprise the majority of what is studied in every cell unit within biology class. Many students have a difficult time understanding the similarities and differences between the two. Students also struggle to understand the phases of each cell division and the reason they occur. Mitosis and meiosis are important to understand and several differences are evident between them which include the type of cell division, the genetic makeup of the cells, and the function of the cells. However, similarities do exist between mitosis and
Organisms that engage in asexual reproduction produce their offspring with mitosis. However, in multicellular organisms like humans, this type of cellular division is found everywhere except in the formation of sex cells. Only one division of the cells takes place in mitosis with two diploid cells as the end result. A diploid cell has two of each chromosome, one from each parent. The chromosome number stays the same in mitosis where there are twenty-three chromosomes in each cell produced, totaling forty-six in humans. It is important to understand that this number varies with different species. The genetic makeup of mitotic cells is identical to those of the parent cells. This means that the DNA, which stands for deoxyribonucleic acid, is identical in every cell formed from mitosis. Crossing over of chromosomes cannot occur in mitosis. If crossing over of chromosomes occurred in mitosis, then the DNA of the diploid cells would not be identical and a serious problem would formulate. Only in meiosis does this crossing over of chromosomes happen where genetic material is shared with homologous chromosomes, which results in a recombination of DNA to produce genetically different cells for sexual reproduction with the goal of offspring. The function of mitosis is to enable cellular growth and regeneration in multicellular organisms such as humans.
The method by which mitosis and meiosis were studied was revolutionized by the invention of the microscope in the 1500’s by Leeuwenhoek. Scientists regularly use the microscope to magnify objects that are impossible to see by the naked human eye. Mitosis and meiosis can only be viewed under a microscope, and the phases of each process can be differentiated. Each process undergoes four rudimentary phases in the order of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. However, the difference comes during meiosis where there are two divisions resulting in four haploid cells, therefore needing two sets of phases which come in the order of prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I, telophase I, prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, and telophase II. Many plants, animals, and fungi use mitosis and meiosis to constantly replenish cells and produce gametes for reproduction. Biology studies all aspects of the life forms that undergo mitosis and meiosis to better understand how the two processes work and to potentially find cures for diseases regarding cellular