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Mitosis vs Meiosis Cheat Sheet
A printable reference covering mitosis, meiosis, chromosome number, crossing over, gamete formation, and key division stages for grades 9-12.
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This cheat sheet compares mitosis and meiosis, the two major ways eukaryotic cells divide. Students need it because these processes explain growth, repair, reproduction, inheritance, and genetic variation. It helps organize the stages, chromosome changes, and final products in a clear side-by-side way. Mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid body cells for growth and repair. Meiosis produces four genetically different haploid gametes for sexual reproduction. The most important ideas are chromosome number, DNA replication before division, homologous chromosome separation in meiosis I, and sister chromatid separation in mitosis and meiosis II.
Key Facts
- Mitosis has one cell division and produces 2 genetically identical diploid cells.
- Meiosis has two cell divisions and produces 4 genetically different haploid cells.
- Diploid cells have two sets of chromosomes, written as 2n, while haploid cells have one set, written as n.
- DNA replication happens once during interphase before both mitosis and meiosis.
- In mitosis, sister chromatids separate during anaphase, so chromosome number stays the same.
- In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes separate, reducing chromosome number from 2n to n.
- In meiosis II, sister chromatids separate, similar to mitosis, but the cells are already haploid.
- Crossing over in prophase I and independent assortment in metaphase I create genetic variation.
Vocabulary
- Mitosis
- Mitosis is nuclear division that produces two genetically identical body cells with the same chromosome number as the parent cell.
- Meiosis
- Meiosis is cell division that produces four genetically different gametes with half the chromosome number of the parent cell.
- Diploid
- A diploid cell has two sets of chromosomes, one set from each parent, and is written as 2n.
- Haploid
- A haploid cell has one set of chromosomes and is written as n.
- Homologous chromosomes
- Homologous chromosomes are matching chromosome pairs that carry genes for the same traits, with one chromosome inherited from each parent.
- Crossing over
- Crossing over is the exchange of DNA between homologous chromosomes during prophase I of meiosis.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing sister chromatids with homologous chromosomes is wrong because sister chromatids are identical copies, while homologous chromosomes are a matched pair from two parents.
- Saying mitosis makes gametes is wrong because mitosis makes body cells for growth and repair, while meiosis makes sperm or egg cells.
- Forgetting that DNA replicates before division is wrong because chromosomes must copy during interphase before mitosis or meiosis begins.
- Thinking meiosis keeps chromosome number the same is wrong because meiosis reduces chromosome number from diploid 2n to haploid n.
- Placing crossing over in mitosis is wrong because crossing over normally occurs during prophase I of meiosis and increases genetic variation.
Practice Questions
- 1 A human body cell has 46 chromosomes. How many chromosomes are in each daughter cell after mitosis?
- 2 A diploid cell has 12 chromosomes. How many chromosomes will each gamete have after meiosis?
- 3 If one parent cell completes meiosis, how many daughter cells are produced, and are they genetically identical or different?
- 4 Why is meiosis important for sexual reproduction while mitosis is better suited for growth and tissue repair?