Question

What is the significance of meiosis? How does meiosis differ from mitosis?

Answer 1

Hint: Mitosis is defined as a process wherein the sexually reproductive organism produces their sex cells, sperm and eggs.

Complete Answer:
Meiosis process is characterised by the presence of a specialised cell called the germ cell which undergoes a split to form four different sex cells. The significance of meiosis is,
- It is responsible for formation of sex cells which are responsible for sexual reproduction.
- It helps in maintaining constant chromosome number.
- It helps in activation of genetic information and deactivation of sporophytic information.

Differentiating Factor	Mitosis	Meiosis
Interphase	Every single chromosome replicates and results into the production of two sister chromatids which are genetically identical to each other.	Chromosomes are not visible here as the DNA has either been replicated or duplicated.
Prophase	Each of the duplicated chromosomes portrays itself as two identical sister chromatids thereby progressing ahead with the formation of mitotic spindle fibres. The resulting chromosomes later condense and thicken.	This phase is characterised by crossing over recombination where two sister chromatids appear as pairs. The structure formed is known as the tetrad.
Metaphase	All the chromosomes assemble themselves at the equatorial axis	Chromosomes adjust themselves along the metaphase plate.
Anaphase	Spindle fibres features contraction and starts pulling sister chromatids apart.	Both the sister chromatids remain in intact contact with each other.
Mode of Reproduction	Asexual	Sexual
Occurrence	All cells	Reproductive cells
Function	General growth and reproduction	Genetic diversity via sexual reproduction
Cytokinesis	Telophase	Telophase I and II
Discovered by	Walter Fleming	Oscar Hertwig

Note: The significance of mitosis is,
- It is required for asexual reproduction.
- It also helps in maintaining a constant number of chromosomes in body cells of all organisms.
- It helps in regeneration of damaged tissues.