The purpose of both mitosis and meiosis is to create new cells. Both processes involve the replication of genetic material within the cell, and both take place within a sexually reproducing individual. There is a difference between the processes, however. What is one crucial difference? (1 point)
Only mitosis allows for the possibility of translocation.
Meiosis creates an exact replica of the parent cell, while mitosis shows genetic diversity.
Only meiosis allows for the possibility of gene point mutations.
Mitosis creates an exact replica of the parent cell, while meiosis shows genetic diversity.
The correct answer is: Mitosis creates an exact replica of the parent cell, while meiosis shows genetic diversity.
To understand why this is the correct answer, we need to understand the key differences between mitosis and meiosis. Both processes are involved in cell division, but they have distinct purposes and outcomes.
Mitosis is a process that occurs in somatic cells, which are non-reproductive cells. Its main purpose is to produce two identical daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell. This is achieved through a series of steps, including DNA replication, chromosome segregation, and cytokinesis. In mitosis, the number of chromosomes in the daughter cells is the same as the parent cell.
Meiosis, on the other hand, is a type of cell division that occurs in reproductive cells called germ cells. Its main purpose is to produce gametes (sperm and eggs) for sexual reproduction. Meiosis involves two rounds of cell division, resulting in four non-identical daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This reduction in chromosome number is crucial for maintaining the same number of chromosomes in a species over generations.
The key difference between mitosis and meiosis lies in the genetic diversity that is generated. In mitosis, the daughter cells are genetically identical to each other and to the parent cell. This is important for the growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues in multicellular organisms.
In contrast, meiosis generates genetic diversity. This is due to two processes: crossing over and independent assortment. Crossing over occurs during the first round of meiotic division, where genetic material is exchanged between homologous chromosomes. This leads to the shuffling of genetic information and creates new combinations of alleles. Independent assortment occurs during the second round of meiotic division when the homologous chromosomes separate randomly, resulting in even more genetic variation.
Therefore, the crucial difference between mitosis and meiosis is that mitosis creates an exact replica of the parent cell, while meiosis shows genetic diversity.