Introduction

Cell division is a fundamental process for life. It is useful not only to generate new cells
but also to help in growth and development. This cell division can take place through 2
different modes - Mitosis and Meiosis. We are about to look at a few characteristics, the
basic definitions, and the difference between mitosis and meiosis. 

Cell reproduction is the process of creating new species using a single-parent cell.
However, this process is different in unicellular and multicellular organisms. 

Unicellular organisms perform cell reproduction or division to generate daughter cells.

Multicellular organisms perform cell division to enhance growth and replace worn-out
cells from the body. 

To put it straight, mitosis creates new body cells, whereas meiosis generates sperm and
egg cells. 

Mitosis and Meiosis

Mitosis is a core process that replicates all of its content, including duplication of its
chromosomes. The result is two identical daughter cells. Mitosis is a critical process to
life, and hence this is controlled by several genes.  

If the genes are not regulated properly, it might cause serious health issues in humans,
such as cancer. 

Meiosis, on the other side, will create copies that have the same number of chromosomes
in humans (in all generations). Meiosis is a two-step procedure, reducing the
chromosome number by half. The result of this process is the formation of egg and sperm
cells, with chromosome counts from 46 to 23. This is a reason why the human embryo
has 46 chromosomes from birth (conception of egg and sperm). 

Chances are likely in meiosis to exhibit genetic variations from DNA shuffling. 

Following is a table to quickly describe the differences in mitosis vs meiosis.

Cell division is a fundamental process for life. It is useful not only to generate new cells
but also to help in growth and development. This cell division can take place through 2
different modes - Mitosis and Meiosis. We are about to look at a few characteristics, the
basic definitions, and the difference between mitosis and meiosis. 
Cell reproduction is the process of creating new species using a single-parent cell.
However, this process is different in unicellular and multicellular organisms. 

Unicellular organisms perform cell reproduction or division to generate daughter cells.

Multicellular organisms perform cell division to enhance growth and replace worn-out
cells from the body. 

To put it straight, mitosis creates new body cells, whereas meiosis generates sperm and
egg cells. 

IMPORTANCE

(a) Mitosis:

It is important for:

Increasing the number of cells in a particular tissue.

Protection from harmful microorganism in case of a cut or wound.

Replacing or repairing dead or inefficient cells in a tissue.

To maintain the ratio of cytoplasm to nucleoplasm as well as surface area to volume.

(b) Meiosis:

It is the most essential process in all sexually reproducing animals.

Maintain chromosomal number in zygote (diploidy of zygote).

Meiosis includes crossing over, resulting in genetic recombination.

Meiosis show a number of incidences of mutation (sudden changes in genetic material ).