Friday, January 14, 2011

Meiosis vs Mitosis

What is meiosis and mitosis?
Meiosis and mitosis both describes the process by which the body prepares cells to participate in either asexual or sexual reproduction to make an entire organism.

Meiosis is a special type of cell division necessary for sexually reproducing organisms. Meiosis is the production of sperm and egg cells. These cells are sex cells. Each cell has to go through the division process twice in order for the cell to end up with half the number of chromosomes. The cells pass on genetic information to the offspring. This is a form of sexual reproduction, where one organism or cells reproduces by crossing with another organism or cell. Types of organisms that reproduce sexually are; plants, animals, and insects.

Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell separates the chromosomes in its cell nucleus into two identical sets in two nuclei or two daughter cells from a parent cell. The daughter cells are identical to one another and to the original parent cell. This is a form of "Asexual" reproduction, where one organism or cell reproduces itself. Some organisms that reproduce asexually are hydra, bacteria, and single celled organisms.

The steps of meiosis are Interphase, Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, Telophase I, Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II and Telophase II.

The steps of mitosis are Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase and Cytokinesis

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