What are the differences between mitosis and meiosis?

Basis of differentiation

Mitosis

Meiosis

Definition

A type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells having the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell

A type of cell division that results in four daughter cells each with half the number of chromosomes as its parent cell (for production of gametes)

Cell division

During mitosis, a somatic cell divides once, cytokinesis occurs at the end of telophase

A reproductive cell divides twice, cytokinesis occurs at the end of telophase I and II 

Daughter cell number

Mitosis produces 2 daughter cells, each cell is diploid containing the same number of chromosomes 

Meiosis produces 4 daughter cells, each cell is haploid containing half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell 

Length of prophase

During prophase in mitosis, a cell spends less time in prophase than a cell in prophase I of meiosis 

Prophase I has five stages and lasts longer than prophase of mitosis. The five stages of meiotic prophase I are leptotene, zygotene, pachytene, diplotene, and diakinesis.   

Genetic composition/variation

The resulting daughter cells in mitosis are genetically identical (no recombination or crossing over occurs and thus no genetic variation occurs)

The resulting daughter cells have different combinations of genes. Genetic recombination occurs due to the random segregation of homologous chromosomes into different cells and through crossing over (genetic variation increases 

Chromosome alignment in metaphase

Sister chromatids align at the metaphase plate in mitosis 

Tetrads align at the metaphase plate in metaphase I

Tetrad formation

Tetrad formation does not occur `

In prophase I, homologous chromosome pairs line up together forming tetrads (two sets of sister chromatids)

Chromosome separation 

During anaphase, sister chromatids separate and migrate toward opposite poles of the cell

Homologous chromosomes migrate toward the opposite poles of the cell during anaphase I (sister chromatids don’t separate in anaphase I)

Steps 

Has 6 steps total 

Has 9 steps in total 

Occurrence

Occurs in somatic cells

Occurs in germ cells 

Chromosome number 

Chromosome number remains the same

Chromosome number is halved in each daughter cell 

Purpose

The purpose of mitosis is cell proliferation

The purpose of meiosis is sexual reproduction