Which of the following best describes how the cells formed during mitosis compare to the cells formed during meiosis? Mitosis pr
oduces four genetically identical cells, while meiosis produces two genetically different cells. Mitosis produces two genetically different cells, while meiosis produces four genetically identical cells. Mitosis produces two genetically identical cells, while meiosis produces four genetically different cells. Mitosis produces four genetically different cells, while meiosis produces two genetically identical cells.
Mitosis produces two genetically identical cells, while meiosis produces four genetically different cells.
Explanation:
Mitosis and Meiosis are both kinds of cellular division that occurs in all living cells, however, they are used for different purposes. Mitosis is a type of cell division that produces two daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell. They are identical in the sense that they contain same alleles of the same genes as the parent cells. It is usually used for growth, repair or REPRODUCTION in asexually-reproducing organisms.
On the other hand, meiosis is a type of cell division that results in four daughter cells with each having a reduced number of chromosomes as the parent cell (by half). It is employed by only sexually reproducing organisms to produce gametes. Meiosis occurs in a two-step division process resulting in 4 daughter cells. Meiosis increases genetic variation among species by producing gametes that are genetically different from the parent cell. This is achieved by a process called CROSSING-OVER, peculiar to meiosis, where chromosome segments are exchanged between homologous chromosomes (non-sister chromatids).
