Mitosis
  • occurs in somatic cells
     
  • one cell division
     
  • DNA is duplicated before cell division
     
  • each parent cell produces 2 daughter cells
     
  • each daughter cell has a "2n" chromosome number

Meiosis
  • occurs in gametes
     
  • two cell divisions
     
  • DNA is duplicated before the first division, but not the second
     
  • each parent cell produces 4 daughter cells
     
  • each daughter cell has an "n" chromosome number
a comparison of mitosis and meiosis