How does meiosis differ from mitosis?

Meiosis results in four genetically different haploid cells, while mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid cells.

Mitosis and meiosis are two types of cell division processes that play crucial roles in life. Mitosis is a process of asexual reproduction in which the cell divides in two producing a replica, with an equal number of chromosomes in each resulting diploid cell. It is a single division process that occurs in all tissues, organs and organisms that reproduce asexually. The main purpose of mitosis is growth and repair in the body.

On the other hand, meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction. Meiosis involves two successive cell divisions with the resulting cells having half the number of chromosomes. These cells are genetically different from the parent cell and each other.

In mitosis, the daughter cells are identical to the parent as well as to each other. It is a process of duplication and division, where the cell duplicates its contents and then splits into two. This is how our skin or hair cells reproduce, for example.

In contrast, meiosis leads to genetic diversity through sexual reproduction. It starts with a single cell that divides twice to produce four cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. These cells are all genetically unique. This is how egg and sperm cells are produced in humans.

In summary, while both processes are forms of cell division, they differ in their process, purpose, and result. Mitosis results in two identical cells, whereas meiosis leads to four genetically unique cells.