| Mitosis | Meiosis |
| It occurs in all somatic cells and may persist all over life |
It occurs in reproductive cells at specific times. |
| It involves a single division, which leads to two daughter cells only. |
It involves two successive divisions, which leads to four daughter cells. |
| Consequent mitotic divisions are similar to the previous ones. |
Two meiotic divisions are dissimilar, the first is reductional while the second is equational. |
| Prophase is relatively short and simple. | Prophase I is very long and elaborate, which comprises five subphases like leptotene, pachytene, zygotene, diplotene, and diakinesis. |
| There is no pairing of homologous chromosomes. | Homologous chromosomes pair and often undergo crossing over in prophase I. |
| Chromatids are genetically similar to the chromosomes they arise from |
Chromatids may vary genetically from the chromosomes they emerge from because of crossing over. |
| No synaptonemal complex formed. | Synaptonemal complex forms among synapsed homologous chromosomes. |
| Chromosomes do not unfold, and no protein synthesis and transcription take place in prophase. |
Chromosomes unfold, n and protein synthesis and transcription may take place in diplotene of prophase I (oocytes of specific animals). |
| Daughter cells have a diploid number (2N) of chromosomes like the parent cell. |
Daughter cells have a haploid number (N) of chromosomes, unlike the parent cell. |
Analyse the events during every stage of cell cycle and notice how the following two parameters change
(i) number of chromosomes (N) per cell
(ii) amount of DNA content (C) per cell
Can there be mitosis without DNA replication in the ‘S’ phase?
Discuss with your teacher about
(i) haploid insects and lower plants where cell-division occurs.
(ii) some haploid cells in higher plants where cell-division does not occur.
Distinguish anaphase of mitosis from anaphase 1 of meiosis.