There are two main types of cell division:
Mitosis: This is the cell division process responsible for growth and repair of the body. During mitosis, a parent cell duplicates its genetic material (DNA) and divides into two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell. This allows for the creation of new cells to increase the size of the organism (growth) or replace old or damaged cells (repair).
Meiosis: This is the cell division process involved in the formation of gametes (sex cells) like sperm and egg cells. Meiosis is a more complex process compared to mitosis. It involves two cell divisions that result in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell (haploid). This is crucial for sexual reproduction because when a sperm and egg cell (both haploid) fuse during fertilization, they create a zygote with the correct number of chromosomes (diploid).
What is Gamets
Gamete formation is how special reproductive cells (like sperm and egg) are made for sexual reproduction. It happens through a process called meiosis, where cells divide to halve the chromosome number.
Mitosis vs Meiosis
| Characteristic | Mitosis | Meiosis |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Type | Somatic cells (body cells) | Germ cells (reproductive cells) |
| Daughter Cells | Two, identical | Four, non-identical |
| Chromosome Number | Same as parent cell (diploid) | Half the number of parent cell (haploid) |
| Occurrence | All stages of life for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction | Only in reproductive organs for gamete formation |
| Number of Rounds | One (Mitotic division) | Two (Meiosis I and II) |
| Crossing Over | No | Yes (Occurs during prophase I) |
