Question

How the daughter cell in mitosis different from meiosis if both of them have 46 chromosomes but the only difference is that in mitosis it get chromosomes from one parent and in meiosis it get chromosomes from two parents.

Answer 1

Mitosis is the process through which body cells are created, so that they can be replaced.Furthermore, the number of chromosomes after a mitotic division remains the same. However, meiosis is the process through which gametes(or sex cells) are created. For meiosis, normal body cells are differentiated, and the number of chromosomes and genetic material is halved. Gametes formation involves meiosis or reduction division. The gamete mother cell is diploid (2n),i.e.,it has two sets of chromosomes. This single diploid cell divides by meiosis to form 4 haploid (n) daughter cells. Each daughter cell becomes a gamete, either male or female. Each gamete possesses a single set of chromosomes. Fusion of these gametes results in the formation of a zygote having a double set of chromosomesi.e.,diploid (2n) (one set of paternal and the other set maternal). Thus the number of chromosomes in parents and offsprings of a particular species remains constant.