Question

What is the main purpose of mitosis and meiosis?

Answer 1

Mitosis :

1. The process of cell division is in which a single cell divides to form two new cells.
2. The chromosomal number in daughter cells remains the same as the parent cell.

Purpose of mitosis :

1. In single-celled eukaryotes mitosis act as a mode of asexual reproduction, while in multicellular eukaryotes, the zygote develops into the embryo through rapid mitotic divisions in the zygote.
2. Mitosis plays a significant role in cell repair.

Meiosis :

1. The process of cell division that takes place during sexual reproduction by which a diploid germ cell divides to form four haploid cells.
2. During sexual reproduction, the sex cells divide by the meiosis to form haploid gametes and the chromosome number reduces to half in the haploid daughter cells.
3. The fusion of haploid gametes results in the formation of a diploid zygote.

Purpose of meiosis :

1. It acts as a mechanism of conservation of specific chromosome numbers in sexually reproducing organisms.
2. The main purpose of meiosis is the production of gametes during sexual reproduction.
3. Meiosis tends to increase genetic variability in the population.