ACTIVITY 2

Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis

Introduction
In order for organisms to grow, cells have two options: they must either
replicate themselves to create more cells, or the cells themselves must
expand in volume. In humans, tissues such as the skin and blood contain cells
that are actively dividing, whilst other tissues such as fat contain cells
that expand (good if you need energy for winter, bad if you are trying to fit
into some expensive jeans). Other cells, such as neurons, will never divide
again once they are terminally differentiated; they are post-mitotic.

In the process of replicating themselves, cells have another choice: do they

want to make an identical copy and be left with two cells? Or do they want
to make four “half-copies”, in preparation for sexual reproduction, where
their genetic content will be made whole again by the process of
fertilization? This choice is the choice between mitosis and meiosis.
Difference Between Mitosis and Meiosis
This will explore the characteristics of both kinds of cell division, shining a light
on how they are similar and in which aspects they are crucially distinct. We
will also explore the research into these processes and how cell division might
go awry to cause disease states such as cancer and Down’s Syndrome.

Mitosis vs. Meiosis: Overview and commonly asked questions

Mitosis Meiosis

What is the purpose of this process?

In a unicellular organism, the To create gametes with only one copy

purpose of mitosis is of the organism’s genetic information,
to proliferate as a species. In a in preparation for sexual reproduction.
multicellular organism, the Various steps in meiosis create
purpose can be to grow during opportunity for genetic diversity in the
development, or daughter cells. This is the raw substrate
to repair or regenerate for evolution.
a damaged tissue, for example.

What is the outcome of this process?

Two diploid cells Four haploid cells with different genetic

with identical genetic information.
information.

Which organisms perform this process?

Mitosis is performed by unicellular Only organisms which perform sexual

and multicellular eukaryotes.
Bacteria have their own version of
mitosis called “binary fission”. This
is distinct from meiosis as bacteria
typically have one circular
chromosome, which is not
contained within a nucleus, like
eukaryotic chromosomes.
reproduction. Archaea and bacteria
do not do this, so it might be tempting
to think that unicellular organisms do
not sexually reproduce. However, there
are exceptions; budding yeast will form
haploid spores under nutritional
deprivation.

How long does this process take?

Mitosis is usually shorter than Meiosis has various timescales in

meiosis. The process can take
over 10 hours for mammalian cells
in culture [2], budding yeast can
take ~80 minutes to complete a
cell cycle [3], whilst bacteria can
divide every 20 minutes.
different organisms, which can be
affected by several factors including
temperature and environment of the
organism, and the amount of nuclear
DNA. The process lasts 6 hours in yeast
but can last more than 40 years in
human females, due to a
developmental hold at prophase I, until
ovulation. Other examples are 1-2 days
in male fruit flies and ~ 24 days in
human males. [1]

What is an example of a disease caused by an error in this process?

Uncontrolled mitosis occurs in Errors in meiosis can lead to the wrong

cancer, where either genes that number of chromosomes ending up in
stop cell division (tumour germ cells, this is called aneuploidy.
suppressors) are switched off, or This can trigger miscarriage, but is
genes that encourage cell occasionally tolerated. One example
division (oncogenes) are is Down’s syndrome, caused by trisomy
overactive. 21. Another example is Klinefelter
syndrome, where XY males have an
additional X chromosome.

The stages of mitosis vs. meiosis

The stages of mitosis are interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and
telophase, sometimes followed by cytokinesis. “Interphase” is a blanket term
which describes all the stages before mitosis, that is: G1, S and G2 phases.
The stages of meiosis are interphase, prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I,
telophase I, cytokinesis I, prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, telophase II,
and finally cytokinesis II. See our detailed explanation below:

Summary

Meiosis and mitosis both have

a prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase and cytokinesis.

In meiosis, prophase, metaphase, In mitosis, prophase, metaphase,

anaphase and telophase anaphase and telophase
occur twice. The first round of occur once.
division is special, but the second
round is more like mitosis.

Prophase

Chromosomes condense and the centrosomes begin to form an early

spindle.

• Meiotic prophase I is much • Mitotic prophase is much

longer that mitotic prophase. shorter that meiotic prophase
• During prophase I homologous I.
chromosomes make contacts • There is no crossing over in
with each other mitosis.
called chiasmata and
“crossing over” occurs. This is
where chromosomes
exchange sections of DNA. This
is important for
generating genetic
 diversity but is also
crucial mechanically to hold
homologous chromosomes
together.

Metaphase

In metaphase II of meiosis, and metaphase of mitosis, chromosomes line

up along the metaphase plate due to the action of microtubule spindle
fibres emanating from the centrosomes located at opposite cell poles.
These fibres are attached to the chromosomes by kinetochores at
the centromeres of the chromosomes.

• In meiotic metaphase I pairs of • In mitotic metaphase a single

homologous chromosomes line chromosome/ pair of
up along the metaphase chromatids line up along the
plate. metaphase plate.

• The way in which the • Sister chromatids are

homologous pairs are oriented identical and so the
randomly with respect to the orientation of the
cell poles is referred to as chromosome doesn’t carry
the law of independent any meaning.
assortment and ensures a
random and independent
distribution of chromosomes to
the daughter cells of meiosis I
and ultimately to the haploid
gametes at the end of meiosis
II.

Anaphase

In anaphase, chromosomes are split to opposite poles of the cell.

• In anaphase of meiosis • In anaphase of mitosis (and

I cohesin at the centromeres of
the chromosomes is not
cleaved and it therefore
continues to hold sister
chromatids together as
the homologous
meiosis II), cohesin protein
holding the centromeres of
the sister chromatids together
is cleaved, allowing the sister
chromatids to segregate to
opposite poles of the cell, at
 chromosomes are segregated which point they are called
to opposite cell poles. chromosomes.

Telophase

A nuclear membrane reforms around the newly separated chromosomes,

which begin to uncoil, becoming less condense. The spindle microtubules
disassociate. Each daughter cell will inherit one centrosome.

Cytokinesis

The cell plasma membrane pinches, to leave two daughter cells with
separate plasma membranes.

• In meiosis, cytokinesis must • In mitosis, cytokinesis does not

occur twice: once after always occur, some cells
telophase I and again, after divide and are multinucleate,
telophase II. like muscle cells.

Mitosis Chromosomes
Stage

Interphase Are uncondensed but are still organised. The entire genome
is replicated to create two identical semi-conserved copies
of each chromosome.

Prophase Condense. Duplicated chromosomes are called sister

chromatids.

Metaphase Align along the metaphase plate, the midpoint between the
two centrosomes. Sister chromatids are joined at the
centromere by proteins that form a structure called a
kinetochore.
Anaphase Cohesin is cleaved at the centromere of chromosomes,
resulting in sister chromatids being pulled to opposite poles
of the cell.

Telophase Chromosomes begin to uncoil, becoming less condensed.

Cytokinesis Chromosomes have returned to their interphase structure.

This is a topic of much research, but it seems as though each
chromosome occupies its own territory within the nucleus.

Mitosis Centrosomes
Stage

Interphase The centrosome is duplicated.

Prophase Microtubules begin to form an early mitotic spindle between

the duplicated centrosomes.

Metaphase The two centrosomes are now located at opposite poles of

the cell.

Anaphase Microtubules emanating from the centrosomes shrink as the

tension holding the chromosomes at the metaphase plate is
broken by cohesin cleavage.

Telophase The centrosomes remain segregated to opposite sides of the

cell. Each daughter cell will receive one centrosome
comprised of two centrioles.

Cytokinesis Centrosomes signal to the cell that it is okay to proceed with

cytokinesis. Research shows that cells where centrosomes
are destroyed with a laser beam cannot undergo
cytokinesis.

Mitosis Nuclear Membrane

Stage
Interphase Intact.

Prophase Intact.

Metaphase In higher eukaryotes like vertebrates, by the time metaphase

occurs the nuclear envelope has broken down. This is
caused by phosphorylation of nuclear lamin proteins.

Anaphase Broken down.

Telophase A nuclear envelope reforms around the chromosomes in

each daughter cell.

Cytokinesis Intact.

Mitosis Plasma Membrane

Stage

Interphase Intact.

Prophase Intact.

Metaphase Intact.

Anaphase Intact.

Telophase Intact.

Cytokinesis Pinches to form two separate membranes around the two daughter
cells.

PREPARED BY:
SHIELA B. MENDOZA
202205660
MSBIO 1-2