What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

Mitosis and meiosis are both processes which describe the production of new cells. Mitosis produces 2 daughter cells which are genetically identical to the parent cell. Each daughter cell is diploid (contains the normal number of chromosomes). This is the result of DNA replication and 1 cell division. read more

Cytokinesis plays a role in meiosis, too; however, as in mitosis, it is a separate process from meiosis itself, and cytokinesis shows up at a different point in the division. Meiosis I vs. Meiosis II For a more detailed explanation, see Meiosis 1 vs. Meiosis 2. read more

Though both meiosis and mitosis involve the division of a cell, meiosis generates a cell used for sexual reproduction, while mitosis generates a cell used for growth. Mitosis produces two cells that are identical to the parent cell. read more

A cell spends less time in prophase of mitosis than a cell in prophase I of meiosis. Meiosis: Prophase I consists of five stages and lasts longer than prophase of mitosis. The five stages of meiotic prophase I are leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene, and diakinesis. read more

Both mitosis and meiosis are associated with cytokinesis. The end result of both are daughter cells produced from a parent cell. The fundamental sequence of events in mitosis is the same as in meiosis (in meiosis it happens twice). read more

In addition, both mitosis and meiosis involve the separation of sister chromatids and the formation of daughter chromosomes. This event occurs in anaphase of mitosis and anaphase II of meiosis. Finally, both processes end with the division of the cytoplasm that produces individual cells. read more