Meiosis & Mitosis Compared (College Board AP® Biology)

Meiosis & Mitosis Compared

• Mitosis and meiosis are both forms of cell division

• They have many similarities and differences that are important for their functions

• Mitosis contributes to the growth of an organism or to replace dead/dying cells

• Meiosis produces genetically different gametes for sexual reproduction

Chromosome Content After Divisions

• The chromosome content of a cell changes throughout mitotic and meiotic divisions

• Mitosis ends with two daughter cells genetically identical to each other and the parent cell

  • This is important so that growth and cell replacement can occur within an organism continually

  • Every cell in an organism's body (other than gametes) contain exactly the same genetic material - the full genome

• Meiosis ends with four daughter cells all of which contain half the genetic material of the parent cell and are all different from each other and the parent

  • This is important for genetic variation within families and the population

  • Genetic variation can reduce the risk of inheriting genetic diseases

Mitosis & Meiosis Compared Diagram

The chromosome content changes during mitosis and meiosis

Similarities Between Mitosis & Meiosis Table

Differences Between Mitosis & Meiosis Table