There are various similarities between mitosis and meiosis. One similarity is that both mitosis and meiosis take place in the cell nuclei, which can be visualized under a microscope. Both meiosis and mitosis involve cell division in their mechanisms. Additionally, both occur in the M-phase of the cell cycle. In both processes, the basic stages are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Additionally, in both mitosis and meiosis, synthesis of DNA occurs. They also both start with a single diploid parent cell. Mitosis and meiosis both also occur in plants and animal cells.