Mitosis and Meiosis Compare/ContrastMitosis and meiosis are two different types of cell division in humans and other animals. They have many similarities and some important differences such as their purpose and slight differences in results after division. To explain mitosis and meiosis, mitosis is the process by which a cell divides in two and produces two new cells identical to the original parent cell. It duplicates the DNA of the parent cell. Mitosis is the normal way a cell divides and is used for growth and repair. Meiosis, on the other hand, is the process used by sex cells. Cells produced by meiosis receive only half of the DNA chromosomes from the original cell. Mitosis and meiosis are similar in many ways, but they are also different from each other in important ways. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why violent video games should not be banned”?Get the original essayBoth mitosis and meiosis aim to transmit genetic information from a parent cell to several daughter cells. To do this, these cell division processes use chromosomes in the nuclei of cells. The division process for mitosis has 4 steps while meiosis has 8 steps. Mitosis and meiosis have the same first 4 stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. In meiosis, it duplicates all 4 stages with only one difference occurring in metaphase 2 where, before the chromosomes line up in the middle of the cell, they are aligned in homologous pairs on top of each other. Once the chromosomes line up in the middle, they are separated by the spindles created at the prophase stage. The end result of mitosis is 2 diploid cells which contain genetic information identical to that of the parent cell after its 4 stages. Meiosis, on the other hand, ultimately results in 4 haploid daughter cells that contain genetic information different from that of the parent cell. A little DNA from the mother's egg and a little from the father's sperm. These are the main differences between the process of mitosis and the process of meiosis. Mitosis and meiosis have steps in their process that are almost exactly the same, with slight differences and quantities. The stages are interphases which include the substages of G1, S and G2. The next interphase is prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. Mitosis performs each of these steps once and then includes a step called cytokinesis where the cytoplasm divides and the 2 cells are separated. On the other hand, in meiosis, it goes through the five stages interphase 1, prophase 1, metaphase 1, anaphase 1 and telophase 1, and then goes through cytokinesis to divide the cytoplasm and create separate cells. Then, in mitosis, it goes through the cycle again and exhibits interphase 2, prophase 2, metaphase 2, anaphase 2 and telophase 2. Followed again by cytokinesis. All stages of the cycle are the same as in mitosis, with the exception of metaphase 2 where, instead of lining up in the middle, the chromosomes line up in homologous pairs before being distributed to the sides by the spindles. Keep in mind: This is only a sample.Get a custom paper from our expert writers now.Get a Custom EssayMitosis and meiosis are similar modes of cell division, although they do it in slightly different ways with different goals for the end of the process as well. They are both important for life and reproduce.