Which statement below is true of meiosis I

Cells divide and reproduce in two ways, mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis results in two identical daughter cells, whereas meiosis results in four sex cells. Below we highlight the keys differences and similarities between the two types of cell division.

• Mitosis
• Involves one cell division
• Results in two daughter cells
• Results in diploid daughter cells (chromosome number remains the same as parent cell)
• Daughter cells are genetically identical
• Occurs in all organisms except viruses
• Creates all body cells (somatic) apart from the germ cells (eggs and sperm)
• Prophase is much shorter
• No recombination/crossing over occurs in prophase.
   
• In metaphase individual chromosomes (pairs of chromatids) line up along the equator.
• During anaphase the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles.

• Meiosis
• Involves two successive cell divisions
• Results in four daughter cells
• Results in haploid daughter cells (chromosome number is halved from the parent cell)
• Daughter cells are genetically different
• Occurs only in animals, plants and fungi
• Creates germ cells (eggs and sperm) only
   
• Prophase I takes much longer
• Involves recombination/crossing over of chromosomes in prophase I
• In metaphase I pairs of chromosomes line up along the equator.
• During anaphase I the sister chromatids move together to the same pole.
• During anaphase II the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles.

• Mitosis
• Diploid parent cell
• Consists of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase
• In metaphase individual chromosomes (pairs of chromatids) line up along the equator.
• During anaphase the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles.
• Ends with cytokinesis.

• Meiosis
• Diploid parent cell
• Consists of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase (but twice!)
• In metaphase II individual chromosomes (pairs of chromatids) line up along the equator.
• During anaphase II the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles.
• Ends with cytokinesis.

This page was last updated on 2021-07-21