St.

Francis College
ALLEN, NORTHERN SAMAR

Learning Module in General Biology 1

MODULE 4
SIGNIFICANCE OR APPLICATIONS OF MITOSIS/MEIOSIS

WEEK: 7&8 SUBMISSION: APRIL 5, 2021

GRADE LEVEL: 11
LEARNING COMPETENCY:
 Explain the significance or applications of mitosis/meiosis (STEM_BIO11/12-Id-f-8)
I. CONCEPT

Did you know that all life forms are made up of cells? Yes! In fact, your body contains trillions of cells but
you only came from a single egg cell fertilized by a single sperm cell to form a single-celled zygote. You might
wonder how this single cell gave rise to the trillions of cells you have in your body, surely you do, right? We have
mitosis and meiosis to thank for. I know, you’re excited, so let’s begin. Cells divide and reproduce in two ways,
mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis results in two identical daughter cells, whereas meiosis results in four sex cells. They
are both vital processes for the existence of living things that reproduce sexually. Meiosis makes the cells needed for
sexual reproduction (sperm cells and eggs) to occur and mitosis replicates non-sex cells (somatic or body cells)
needed for growth and development. Together, they provide the cellular basis for healthy growth and sexual
reproduction.

II. EXAMPLE AND DISCUSSION

Differences and similarities between the two types of cell division:

Comparison of Mitosis/Meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
1.Requires one nuclear division 1.Requires two nuclear divisions
2. Chromosomes do not synapse nor cross over 2. Chromosomes synapse and cross over

3.Occurs in all organisms except viruses
4.Creates all body cells
5. Preserves chromosome number
6.Produces two daughter nuclei
7.Daughter cells are genetically identical
8. Used for asexual reproduction and growth
3.Occurs only in animals, plants and fungi
4. Creates germ cells (egg and sperm) only
5.Halves chromosome number
6.Produces four daughter nuclei
7. Daughter cells are genetically different
8. Used only for sexual reproduction

Have you ever been sunburned, cut your skin, or bruised it? Have you noticed how a cut on your finger is
gradually repaired in a few days? We have mitosis to thank for this. Mitosis is the process responsible for the
following important living processes:

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 A. Regeneration and repair. Regeneration and replacement of worn-out and damaged tissues is a very
important function of mitosis in living organisms. Mitosis helps in the production of identical copies of cells
and thus helps in repairing the damaged tissue or replacing the worn-out cells.

B. Cell growth and development. Cells can grow old and wear off or they can get bruised and injured
but eventually, they repair and regenerate. Mitosis help in increasing the number of cells in a living
organism thereby playing a significant role in the growth of a living organism.

C. Genetic stability. Mitosis helps in the splitting of chromosomes during cell division and generates
two new daughter cells. Therefore, the chromosomes from the parent chromosomes by copying the exact
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). Therefore, the daughter cells formed as genetically uniform and identical to
the parent as well as to each other. Thus mitosis helps in preserving and maintaining the genetic stability of a
particular population.

D. Asexual reproduction- Mitosis is used in the production of genetically similar offspring. For
example budding of hydra and yeast, binary fission in amoeba, etc.

Meiosis is a form of cell division which functions in the production of gametes (sex cells such as sperm and
ovum (egg) in animals. Organisms that reproduce sexually are thought to have an advantage over organisms that
reproduce asexually, because novel combinations of genes are possible in each generation. Furthermore, with few
exceptions, each individual in a population of sexually reproducing organisms has a distinct genetic composition.
We have meiosis to thank for this variety.

Meiosis has a very important role in the following biological processes:

A. Diversity. One of the benefits of sexual reproduction is the diversity

it produces within a population. That variety is a direct product of meiosis.
Every sex cell made from meiosis has a unique combination of
chromosomes. This
means that no two sperm or egg cells are genetically identical. Every
fertilization event produces new combination of traits. This is why siblings
share DNA with parents and each other but are not identical to one another.
Crossing over produces a new combination of traits and variations. Meiosis
continually reshuffles the genes resulting in a great variety of offspring.
Without meiosis we would all look alike. Meiosis allows each offspring to
be different and so potentially better than the parent. If a disease comes
along, there is a good chance that some of the population would not get sick or die because everyone’s DNA is not
exactly alike.

B. Production of gametes. Meiosis is a form of cell division which functions in the production of gametes (sex
cells such as sperm and ovum (egg) in animals). It reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and
produces four gamete cells. This process is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction. During
reproduction, when the sperm and egg unite to form a single-celled zygote, the number of chromosomes is restored in
the offspring.

C. Activation of the genetic information. Formation of sex cells is a central part of human reproduction. In
fertilization, an egg cell and a sperm cell combine. Sperm cells are produced in men’s testicles and egg cells are
produced in women’s ovaries. Sex cells contain only half of the total amount of human genetic information. When
sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, the resulting cell has a full set of genetic information again.

III. ACTIVITY
Directions: Fill in the needed information in each column to compare mitosis and meiosis. Answers may
include a yes, no, x or / marks.

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 Mitosis Meiosis
1. Purpose of process in multicellular organisms
2. Number of daughter cells produced
3. Number of chromosomes in parent cell (human)
4. Number of chromosomes in one daughter cell (human)

5. Daughter cells diploid (2n) or haploid (n)?

6. Daughter cells are genetically identical to parent cell?

7. Daughter cells are genetically identical to each other?

IV. EVALUATION
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions. Write your answer in a 1 whole sheet of paper.

1. Based on what you have just read or learned about the significance /importance of Meiosis explain the
importance of crossing-over and independent assortment in meiosis and justify how it affects variation in organisms.

 In order to survive, an organism must have the correct number of chromosomes. And in order maintain a
consistent number of chromosomes within a species, what must an organism’s germ cells do? Explain your answer.

3. Predict what will happen to the cell if it cannot undergo meiosis.

4. Some organisms are capable of reproducing asexually through processes such as budding. Is this an example of
mitosis? Why or why not?
5. Predict what could happen to the cell if it cannot undergo mitosis.

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