Question

Mitosis takes place regularly in somatic cells, whereas meiosis occurs only in germ cells.
A. True
B. False

Answer 1

Hint: The process of formation of daughter cells from parent cells takes place via cell division, reproduction, or cell multiplication. Amitosis, mitosis, and meiosis are the three types of cell division. Mitosis is also known as the reductional division.

Complete answer: Replication of chromosomes and their equal distribution both quantitatively and qualitatively into two daughter nuclei is referred to as mitosis. As a result, the daughter cells have the same number and type of chromosomes as is present in their parent cells. It occurs in somatic cells of the body. The formation of somatic cells is mediated by mitosis and hence, mitosis is also known as somatic cell division. Karyokinesis and cytokinesis are two steps of mitosis. Karyokinesis involves nuclear division and the nucleus undergoes many events before two daughter nuclei are formed. The four stages or phases of karyokinesis are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. After the nuclear division or karyokinesis is completed, cytokinesis takes place. In this event, the protoplast is divided into two daughter cells. The reduction in the number of chromosomes by half and the formation of haploid daughter cells is known as meiosis. During sexual reproduction, two gametes each with a complete haploid set of chromosomes are fused to form offsprings. In plants and animals, gametogenesis takes place by meiosis and results in the formation of haploid gametes. In meiosis, DNA replication takes place only in one cycle. Meiosis I and meiosis II are the two cycles involving nuclear and cell division. Thus, the germ cells undergo meiosis to produce sperm and the egg.
Hence, the correct answer is option A.

Note: The purpose of mitosis is to grow during development or repair damaged tissues. On the other hand, meiosis is the basis of sexual reproduction. Both multicellular and unicellular eukaryotes have the ability to undergo mitosis. Meiosis occurs only in organisms that can reproduce sexually.