Difference Between Mitosis and Meiosis
Mitosis and meiosis are the two types of cell division. Mitosis produces identical daughter cells for growth and repair, while meiosis produces genetically diverse gametes for sexual reproduction.
Mitosis vs Meiosis — Comparison Table
| Aspect | Mitosis | Meiosis |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Growth and repair | Gamete formation |
| Daughter cells | 2 identical cells | 4 genetically different cells |
| Chromosome number | Maintained (2n → 2n) | Halved (2n → n) |
| Divisions | One division | Two divisions (Meiosis I + II) |
| Crossing over | Rare | Occurs in Prophase I |
| Genetic variation | No variation | High variation |
| Where | Somatic cells | Reproductive cells |
| Stages | Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase | Same stages but twice (I and II) |
Key Points to Remember
How much this is worth in the exam
Cell Cycle and Cell Division contributes roughly 2–3 questions every year in NEET (about 4–5% of the Botany half), and the mitosis-vs-meiosis comparison is its single most-asked angle — usually as a "match the event to the stage" or "which is true of Meiosis I only" MCQ. It overlaps directly with Class 11 Biology Unit on Cell, so the same prep covers your board exam.
The 30-second exam check
Read the question for three words. If it says "growth / repair / somatic / identical" → Mitosis. If it says "gamete / variation / crossing over / halved / homologous pairing" → Meiosis. Crossing over (recombination) happens ONLY in Prophase I of meiosis — if that phrase appears, the answer is never mitosis.
Chromosome number vs DNA content — the bookkeeping NEET loves to trap
Students lose marks because they assume "chromosome number halves" means "DNA halves". They are tracked separately. Chromosome number is counted as n (sets); DNA content is counted as C (one C = the DNA in a single unreplicated chromatid set). DNA doubles in S-phase BEFORE division even starts.
| Cell / Stage (start → end) | Chromosome number | DNA content |
|---|---|---|
| G1 (resting cell) | 2n | 2C |
| After S-phase (G2) | 2n (number unchanged!) | 4C (DNA doubled) |
| Mitosis end (each daughter) | 2n | 2C |
| Meiosis I end (each cell) | n (number halved) | 2C (chromatids still joined) |
| Meiosis II end (each gamete) | n | 1C |
Common mistakes students make
Meiosis I takes a cell from 2n,4C to n,2C. The chromosome NUMBER halves (homologues separate) but each chromosome still has two sister chromatids, so DNA per cell goes 4C → 2C, not to 1C. DNA reaches 1C only after Meiosis II.
Synapsis (pairing of homologues into bivalents) and crossing over occur in Prophase I — specifically Zygotene (synapsis) and Pachytene (crossing over). Chiasmata become visible in Diplotene.
Mitosis = 1 division = 2 identical diploid cells. Meiosis = 2 divisions (I and II) = 4 genetically different haploid cells. There is no interphase / no DNA replication between Meiosis I and II.
Exam Relevance
This topic falls under Cell Division in Biology for NEET. Questions on the difference between mitosis and meiosis appear frequently in competitive exams, both as direct MCQs and as part of numerical/assertion-reason problems.
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