Mitosis is a process of cell duplication, or reproduction, during which one cell gives rise to two genetically identical daughter cells.

Meiosis, on the other hand, is a division of a germ cell involving two fissions of the nucleus and giving rise to four gametes, or sex cells, each possessing half the number of chromosomes of the original cell.

Mitosis is used by single celled organisms to reproduce; it is also used for the organic growth of tissues, fibers, and membranes. Meiosis is useful for sexual reproduction of organisms. The male and female sex cells, e.g. the spermatozoa and egg, fuse to create a new, singular biological organism.

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Meiosis	Mitosis
Definition	A type of cellular reproduction in which the number of chromosomes are reduced by half through the separation of homologous chromosomes, producing two haploid cells.	A process of asexual reproduction in which the cell divides in two producing a replica, with an equal number of chromosomes in each resulting diploid cell.
Function	sexual reproduction	Cellular Reproduction & general growth and repair of the body
Type of Reproduction	Sexual	Asexual
Occurs in	Humans, animals, plants, fungi	all organisms
Genetically	different	identical
Crossing Over	Yes, mixing of chromosomes can occur.	No, crossing over cannot occur.
Pairing of Homologs	Yes	No
Number of Divisions	2	1
Number of Daughter Cells produced	4 haploid cells	2 diploid cells
Chromosome Number	Reduced by half	Remains the same
Steps	The steps of meiosis are Interphase, Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I, Telophase I, Prophase II, Metaphase II, Anaphase II and Telophase II.	The steps of mitosis are Interphase, Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase and Cytokinesis
Karyokinesis	Occurs in Interphase I	Occurs in Interphase
Cytokinesis	Occurs in Telophase I & Telophase II	Occurs in Telophase
Centromeres Split	The centromeres do not separate during anaphase I, but during anaphase II	The centromeres split during Anaphase
Creates	Sex cells only: Female egg cells or Male sperm cells	Makes everything other than sex cells
Discovered by	Oscar Hertwig	Walther Flemming