2006-10-23 17:32:30 · 6 answers · asked by Miss M 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
Most cells will copy all their DNA until they have two copies of everything, and then divide into two cells that each of one copy of everything. That's mitosis, and it works pretty well for the most part.
In meiosis, the cells don't stop there. Each of the new cells then (after a brief rest) divides again into germ cells, each with HALF the amount of DNA a normal adult needs.
A normal cell has two versions of each gene, one from mom and one from dad (and when it's ready for mitosis, it has two copies of each version, so in a sense it has four copies). A germ cell, on the other hand only has one copy of each gene. Thus the amount of DNA it has is rather reduced from a normal somatic cell.
2006-10-23 17:36:38 · answer #1 · answered by Doctor Why 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mitosis results in a completely identical set of DNA. Meiosis only gets a 1/2 subset of the DNA.
2006-10-24 00:35:36 · answer #2 · answered by Chris J 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mitosis is the way in which normal cells divide to form the same type of cell with the same amount of DNA and organelles.
Meiosis is the way in which reproductive cells divide in order to produce an egg and a sperm cell which has half the amount of genetic information as the original cell. Meiosis is the way in which sexual organisms form gametes in order to pass on their genes to the next generation and create diversity by genetic recombination.
2006-10-24 00:40:40 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mitosis is ordinary cell division, in which all chromosome duplicate by the DNA unzipping and making complements of both sides. Adenine pairs with guanine, and thymine with cytosine, and deoxyribose sugar is the outside rail.
In meiosis, only half the number of chromosomes go into a sperm or egg cell, so that when they unite the embryo will have the proper number of chromosomes.
1/2 is the haploid number.
2006-10-24 00:39:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cells, which reproduce themselves by mitosis, are reproducing by asexual reproduction.
The animation shows the cell nucleus with the chromosomes. Then, the chromosomes are duplicated, with the genetic information being duplicated in the new chromosomes. The nuclear membrane disappears, and the doubled chromosomes line up along the middle. The chromotids split apart and move to the sides of the cell. The nuclear membrane reappears and two identical cells have been formed. Only one of the new cells is shown here.
Cells, which reproduce themselves by meiosis, are reproducing by sexual reproduction.
The animation shows the cell nucleus with the chromosomes. Then the chromosomes are duplicated, with the genetic information being duplicated in the new chromosomes. The nuclear membrane disappears, and the double chromosomes line up side-by-side. The pairs of doubled chromosomes separate. The cell membrane closes off the cells into two. The doubled chromosome now lines up along the middle. The chromotids split apart and move to the sides of the cell. The cell membrane not shown divides the cells. The nuclear membrane reappears and four cells are formed. Each new cell has 1/2 of the original genetic information.
2006-10-24 02:32:09 · answer #5 · answered by veerabhadrasarma m 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
meiosis is like mitosis done twice
2006-10-24 00:39:17 · answer #6 · answered by Mooshak 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋