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Comparing Mitosis and Meiosis Essay

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Comparing Mitosis and Meiosis with reference to i. Chromosomesii.
Biological significance

i. Chromosomes ii. Biological significance

Modern cell theory states that all cells are derived from other cells.
This means cells must have a way of copying themselves. This is cell division; two types of cell division are Meiosis and Mitosis. The comparison will be between Meiosis 1 and Mitosis, because Meiosis 2 is much the same as Mitosis.

Dividing cells have a regular pattern of events, known as the cell cycle. This cycle may be divided into two basic parts; The Interphase and the actual division (Meiosis / Mitosis).

Interphase is when the cell is not dividing but duplicating its DNA and organelles. Both Meiosis 1 and …show more content…

At this point the chromatids may break and recombine with different chromatids, this is called crossing over.

Metaphase

In Mitosis Metaphase stage the chromosomes go to the centre/equator of the spindle. The chromosomes get attached to spindle fibres at the centromere, when these contract; the individual chromatids get pulled apart slightly.

In Meiosis Metaphase 1 is similar to Mitosis stage one but differs as chromosomes form a double row at the equator of the spindle instead of a single row.

Anaphase

In Mitosis and Meiosis Anaphase; the centromere splits as a result the spindle contract further and the two chromatids of each chromosome separate and migrate to opposite ends. The spindle fibres are made of tubulin molecules and they shorten through the removal process. The energy for this process is provided by mitochondria, which surround the spindle fibres.

Telophase

In Mitosis and Meiosis Telophase the chromatids reach their respective poles and a new nuclear envelope forms around each group. The chromatids uncoil and lengthen, becoming invisible again. The spindle fibres disappear and a nucleolus forms in each new nucleus.

Comparing Mitosis and Meiosis with reference to Chromosomes

Mitosis

Meiosis

A single division of the chromosomes and the nucleus

A single division of the chromosomes but a double division of the nucleus The number of chromosomes remains the same

The number of

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