TABLE COMPARING MITOSIS AND MEIOSIS
MITOSIS MEIOSISNumber of divisions One Two
Number of cells produced 2 4 (tetrad)
Chromosome sets (=n) 1n ! 1n; 2n ! 2n 2n ! 1n
Purpose Vegetative growth Sexual reproduction;produce spores to
startgametophyte generation,or produce sex cells(gametes) directly
(mostanimals)
Site In plants, apical and rootmeristems and vascularcambium
In plant, microsporangiaand megasporangia
Cell Division PhaseProphase I Chromosomes duplicate
(chromatids);chromosomes do not pair
Chromosomes duplicate(chromatids); likechromosomes pair
Metaphase I Chromosomes (pairedchromatids) line up atequatorial
plate
Paired Chromosomes (4chromatids) line up atequatorial plate
Anaphase I Chromatids separate Chromosomes pairsseparate;
chromatids staytogether
Telophase I 2 identical cells formedVoil youre done!
2 nucleii or cells formed;each with one set ofchromosomes as
pairedchromatids
Prophase II Chromosomes, as pairedchromatids
condensed,distinct
Metaphase II Paired chromatids atequatorial plate
Anaphase II Separation of chromatids
Telophase II Formation of 4 nucleii orcells; each haploid
(1n)
