Comparison of Meiosis and MitosisThere are three main ways in which the processes of meiosis and mitosis differ.
Mitosis and meiosis are both preceded by a complete copying, or replication of the genetic material of chromosomes. However, in mitosis, when the two sets of genetic material separate, each daughter cell receives one complete set of chromosomes. In meiosis, homologous chromosomes line up and then move to separate daughter cells.
Mitosis does not normally change the chromosome number of the original cell. In meiosis the number of chromosomes is reduced by half. For example a diploid cell that enters mitosis with 10 chromosomes will divide and produce two diploid daughter cells, each of which also has 10 chromosomes. On the other hand, a diploid cell that enters meiosis with 10 chromosomes will pass through two meiotic divisions to produce four haploid gamete cells, each with only 5 chromosomes.
Mitosis is a single cell division, resulting in the production of 2 identical daughter cells. Meiosis requires 2 rounds of cell divisions and in most organisms produces a total of 4 daughter cells.
Click on the link below to watch this animation and see the difference in mitosis and meiosis.