Mitosis produces two genetically identical cells from one parent cell and is used for growth and repair. Meiosis produces four genetically different cells, each with half the parent cell’s chromosome number, and is used only to make sperm and egg cells. Both processes start from the same kind of cell and use a spindle to move chromosomes, but meiosis involves two rounds of division instead of one and includes a step called crossing over that mixes genetic material between chromosomes. In this guide, learn what mitosis vs meiosis is, their stages, and where both processes happen in the human body.
What Is Mitosis?
It is the type of cell division that produces two daughter cells, each genetically identical to the original parent cell and to each other. According to the National Institute of General Medical Sciences (NIGMS), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, mitosis is responsible for the massive multiplication of cells that turns a single fertilized egg into a full body made of trillions of cells, and it continues throughout life to replace damaged or worn-out cells.
Different cells go through mitosis at different rates. Cells lining the stomach replace themselves every few days because stomach acid wears them down quickly. Liver cells may take up to a year to replace themselves. Some cells, including certain nerve cells and the cells in the lens of the eye, do not divide again once they mature.
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Stages of mitosis
Cells go through a preparation stage called interphase before mitosis begins, where the cell grows and copies its DNA. Stages of mitosis that follow interphase are
- Prophase – Chromosomes condense and become visible. The spindle, a structure that will move the chromosomes, starts to form.
- Prometaphase – The nuclear membrane breaks apart, and chromosomes attach to the spindle fibers.
- Metaphase – Chromosomes line up along the center of the cell, on the spindle’s equator.
- Anaphase – The spindle pulls the chromosomes apart, sending one copy of each toward opposite ends of the cell.
- Telophase – A new nuclear membrane forms around each set of separated chromosomes.
- Cytokinesis – The cell physically splits into two separate daughter cells.
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What Is Meiosis?
It is the type of cell division that produces four daughter cells, each with only half the chromosome number of the parent cell, and each genetically different from the others. Meiosis occurs only in the cells responsible for sexual reproduction, meaning it produces sperm cells in males and egg cells in females.
The reduction in chromosome number matters because two sex cells combine during fertilization. If sex cells carried the full chromosome number, the resulting embryo would have double the correct amount. Meiosis prevents that by halving the number first.
Stages of meiosis
Meiosis also starts with interphase, but the division itself happens in two rounds. Stages of meiosis are –
Meiosis I (separates homologous chromosome pairs) –
- Prophase I – Homologous chromosomes pair up, and crossing over occurs, where segments of genetic material are exchanged between them.
- Metaphase I – Paired chromosomes line up together along the cell’s equator.
- Anaphase I – Whole chromosomes (each still made of two chromatids) separate to opposite poles.
- Telophase I – The cell divides into two cells, each with half the original chromosome number.
Meiosis II (separates sister chromatids, similar to mitosis) – 5. Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II – Each of the two cells from Meiosis I divides again, this time separating the sister chromatids, producing four total cells.
There is no second round of DNA copying between Meiosis I and Meiosis II, which is why the final four cells each end up with half the chromosome number of the original parent cell.
Mitosis vs Meiosis Table
Here is a table covering the core difference between mitosis and meiosis.
| Feature | Mitosis | Meiosis |
|---|---|---|
|
Number of divisions |
One |
Two (Meiosis I and Meiosis II) |
|
Daughter cells produced |
2 |
4 |
|
Chromosome number in daughter cells |
Same as parent cell |
Half of parent cell |
|
Genetically identical to parents? |
Yes |
No |
|
Crossing over |
Does not occur |
Occurs in Prophase I |
|
Occurs in |
Almost all body cells |
Only cells that produce sperm and eggs |
|
Purpose |
Growth, repair, replacement of cells |
Sexual reproduction, genetic variation |
|
Type of reproduction supported |
Asexual (in single-celled organisms) |
Sexual |
Mitosis and Meiosis Similarities
Despite their different outcomes, mitosis and meiosis similarities are worth knowing –
- Both start from a diploid parent cell that has already copied its DNA during interphase.
- Both use a spindle made of microtubules to move chromosomes.
- Both include the stages prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, using those same names.
- In both processes, chromosomes line up at the cell’s equator during metaphase before separating.
- Both end with cytokinesis, the physical splitting of the cell.
Mitosis vs Meiosis in Humans
Mitosis in humans produces two daughter cells that each keep the full 46 chromosomes, while meiosis produces four daughter cells (egg or sperm cells) that each carry only 23.
| Question | Mitosis in Humans | Meiosis in Humans |
|---|---|---|
|
Creates |
All body cells except sex cells |
Only egg cells (female) or sperm cells (male) |
|
Chromosome number in result |
46 |
23 |
|
Identical to the parent cell? |
Yes |
No, half the chromosomes |
|
Why it matters |
Needed for growth, healing, and replacing damaged tissue |
When a 23-chromosome sperm and a 23-chromosome egg combine at fertilization, the resulting cell has 46 again |
Mitosis vs Meiosis Process: Where Each One Happens
The mitosis vs meiosis process differs mainly in where in the body each one takes place –
- Mitosis happens in skin cells, blood cells, muscle cells, and most other body tissue, any time the body needs to grow or repair itself.
- Meiosis happens only in the testes (producing sperm) and ovaries (producing eggs), and only during the production of these reproductive cells.
This is also why a mutation that happens during mitosis (in a skin cell, for example) generally isn’t passed on to children, while a mutation during meiosis can be inherited, since it occurs directly in the cells that become sperm or eggs.
Test Your Understanding
Try answering these before checking the answers below.
- How many daughter cells does meiosis produce, and how many chromosomes does each one have compared to the parent cell?
Answer – Four daughter cells, each with half the chromosome number of the parent cell. - At what stage does crossing over occur, and why does it matter?
Answer – Prophase I of meiosis. It exchanges genetic material between homologous chromosomes, which is a major source of genetic variation between siblings. - If a human skin cell has 46 chromosomes and undergoes mitosis, how many chromosomes will each resulting cell have?
Answer – 46. Mitosis keeps the chromosome number the same as the parent cell.
How Think10x.ai Helps With Biology Topics Like This
Mitosis and meiosis are frequently confused because the stage names overlap. Both have a prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, and the differences are easy to lose track of without seeing the two processes side by side. Think10x.ai turns a mitosis or meiosis question, typed, spoken, or photographed from a textbook page, into a narrated video that walks through each stage individually, so students can pause and ask exactly where the confusion started instead of re-reading the same paragraph.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Since meiosis produces the sperm and egg cells directly, an error in chromosome separation during meiosis, such as a chromosome not separating correctly, can be passed to the resulting offspring. This is how conditions like Down syndrome, involving an extra copy of chromosome 21, can occur.
The first round (Meiosis I) separates homologous chromosome pairs and cuts the chromosome number in half. The second round (Meiosis II) separates the sister chromatids within each of those cells, similar to mitosis. Without the second round, each cell would still contain doubled chromosomes.
The core stages are the same, but plant cells lack centrioles, which animal cells use to help organize the spindle. Plant cell division also typically forms a cell plate during cytokinesis instead of pinching the membrane inward, since plant cells have a rigid cell wall.
Mitosis is considered to have evolved first, since it’s the mechanism single-celled organisms use to reproduce asexually. Meiosis is thought to have evolved later, arising specifically to enable sexual reproduction and the genetic mixing that comes with it.