Mitosis Meiosis Compared | PDF | Meiosis | Mitosis - Free Printable

You’ve uploaded a worksheet titled “Mitosis Versus Meiosis” with 27 questions that ask students to describe, compare, and illustrate the stages of mitosis and meiosis. Since I can’t draw pictures (as requested for many questions), I’ll provide detailed written answers for all 27 questions, explain key concepts, and give you guidance on how to draw the diagrams correctly if you’re completing this assignment.

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✔ Answer Key + Explanations

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#### 1. Describe the purpose of mitosis.
> Mitosis is the process of cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell. Its main purposes are:
> - Growth and development of multicellular organisms
> - Repair and regeneration of damaged or dead tissues
> - Asexual reproduction in some organisms

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#### 2. How many times does the cell divide during mitosis?
> The cell divides once — one round of division producing two daughter cells.

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#### 3. What kind of cells are produced at the end of mitosis?
> Two genetically identical diploid daughter cells (same number and type of chromosomes as the parent cell).

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#### 4. What are sister chromatids?
> Sister chromatids are two identical copies of a single chromosome, produced during DNA replication (S phase). They are held together at the centromere until they separate during anaphase of mitosis or anaphase II of meiosis.

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#### 5. Briefly describe what happens during prophase.
> - Chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes (each made of two sister chromatids)
> - Nuclear envelope breaks down
> - Spindle fibers begin to form from centrosomes (which move to opposite poles)

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#### 6. Draw and label picture of what a cell looks like during prophase.
> *On back of page:*
> - Draw a cell with scattered, X-shaped chromosomes (each = 2 sister chromatids)
> - Label: “chromosomes,” “nuclear envelope dissolving,” “spindle forming,” “centrosomes at poles”

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#### 7. Briefly describe what happens during metaphase.
> - Chromosomes line up single file along the metaphase plate (equator of the cell)
> - Spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of each chromosome
> - Ensures equal distribution of chromosomes to daughter cells

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#### 8. Draw and label a picture of what a cell looks like during metaphase.
> *On back of page:*
> - Draw chromosomes aligned neatly in the middle
> - Label: “metaphase plate,” “spindle fibers attached to centromeres,” “chromosomes lined up”

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#### 9. Briefly describe what happens during anaphase.
> - Sister chromatids are pulled apart to opposite poles by shortening spindle fibers
> - Each chromatid is now considered an individual chromosome
> - Cell begins to elongate

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#### 10. Draw and label a picture of what a cell looks like during anaphase.
> *On back of page:*
> - Draw chromosomes being pulled to opposite ends
> - Label: “sister chromatids separating,” “spindle fibers pulling,” “cell elongating”

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#### 11. Briefly describe what happens during telophase.
> - Chromosomes arrive at poles and decondense into chromatin
> - Nuclear envelopes reform around each set of chromosomes
> - Nucleoli reappear
> - Spindle disappears

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#### 12. Draw and label a picture of what a cell looks like during telophase.
> *On back of page:*
> - Draw two nuclei forming at opposite ends
> - Label: “nuclear envelopes reforming,” “chromosomes decondensing,” “two nuclei”

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#### 13. Is cytokinesis part of mitosis?
> No. Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm and occurs *after* mitosis. Mitosis refers only to nuclear division. However, it’s often taught together with mitosis since it completes cell division.

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#### 14. Briefly describe what happens during cytokinesis.
> - In animal cells: A cleavage furrow forms and pinches the cell in two.
> - In plant cells: A cell plate forms down the middle, becoming a new cell wall.
> - Results in two separate daughter cells.

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#### 15. Draw a picture of what a cell looks like during cytokinesis.
> *On back of page:*
> - For animal cell: Show cell pinching inward → label “cleavage furrow”
> - For plant cell: Show cell plate forming → label “cell plate”

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#### 16. Describe the purpose of meiosis.
> Meiosis produces haploid gametes (sperm and egg cells) for sexual reproduction. It reduces chromosome number by half and introduces genetic variation through crossing over and independent assortment.

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#### 17. How many times does the cell divide during meiosis?
> The cell divides twice — Meiosis I and Meiosis II — resulting in four haploid daughter cells.

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#### 18. What kind of cells are produced at the end of meiosis?
> Four haploid daughter cells that are genetically different from each other and from the parent cell.

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#### 19. Briefly describe the difference of prophase I & II.
> - Prophase I: Homologous chromosomes pair up (synapsis), form tetrads, and exchange genetic material (crossing over). Nuclear envelope breaks down. Longest phase.
> - Prophase II: No pairing or crossing over. Chromosomes (already condensed from meiosis I) re-condense. Nuclear envelope breaks down again. Similar to mitotic prophase.

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#### 20. Draw and label a picture of prophase I & II.
> *On back of page:*
> - Prophase I: Draw homologous chromosomes paired as tetrads; show crossing over (X-shaped exchange points); label “tetrads,” “crossing over,” “chiasmata”
> - Prophase II: Draw single chromosomes (not paired); label “chromosomes condensing,” “no crossing over”

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#### 21. Briefly describe the difference of metaphase I & II.
> - Metaphase I: Tetrads (pairs of homologous chromosomes) line up at the metaphase plate. Independent assortment occurs here.
> - Metaphase II: Individual chromosomes (each with 2 chromatids) line up single file — just like in mitotic metaphase.

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#### 22. Draw and label a picture of metaphase I & II.
> *On back of page:*
> - Metaphase I: Draw tetrads aligned at equator; label “tetrads,” “independent assortment”
> - Metaphase II: Draw single chromosomes aligned; label “individual chromosomes,” “like mitosis”

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#### 23. Briefly describe the difference of anaphase I & II.
> - Anaphase I: Homologous chromosomes (still composed of 2 chromatids) are pulled apart to opposite poles. Sister chromatids remain together.
> - Anaphase II: Sister chromatids separate (just like in mitosis) and move to opposite poles.

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#### 24. Draw and label a picture of anaphase I & II.
> *On back of page:*
> - Anaphase I: Draw homologous pairs separating; label “homologous chromosomes pulled apart,” “sister chromatids still together”
> - Anaphase II: Draw sister chromatids separating; label “sister chromatids pulled apart”

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#### 25. Briefly describe the difference of telophase I & II.
> - Telophase I: Two haploid cells form, each with chromosomes still made of 2 chromatids. Nuclear envelopes may or may not reform. No DNA replication between meiosis I and II.
> - Telophase II: Four haploid cells form, each with single-chromatid chromosomes. Nuclear envelopes reform.

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#### 26. Draw and label a picture of telophase I & II.
> *On back of page:*
> - Telophase I: Draw 2 cells, each with half the chromosomes (still in pairs of chromatids); label “haploid cells,” “chromosomes still have 2 chromatids”
> - Telophase II: Draw 4 cells, each with single chromosomes; label “4 haploid gametes,” “single chromatid chromosomes”

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#### 27. What would happen to cell division if a chemical was put in the cell that did not allow for cell division to occur?
> - The cell would not divide.
> - No new daughter cells would be formed.
> - The cell might continue to grow abnormally (if it keeps replicating DNA but doesn’t divide).
> - Eventually, the cell could die due to lack of function or accumulation of damage.
> - In multicellular organisms, this could lead to tissue degeneration or failure to heal wounds.

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🎯 Summary Table: Mitosis vs. Meiosis

| Feature | Mitosis | Meiosis |
|------------------------|----------------------------------|-----------------------------------|
| # of Divisions | 1 | 2 |
| Daughter Cells | 2 diploid, identical | 4 haploid, genetically unique |
| Purpose | Growth, repair, asexual repro | Sexual reproduction, gamete formation |
| Genetic Variation? | No (unless mutation) | Yes (crossing over, independent assortment) |
| Prophase | No pairing | Homologous pairing + crossing over |
| Metaphase | Individual chromosomes align | Tetrads align (Meiosis I) |
| Anaphase | Sister chromatids separate | Homologs separate (I), then sisters (II) |

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🖍️ Tips for Drawing Diagrams (for Questions 6, 8, 10, 12, 15, 20, 22, 24, 26)

- Use simple circles for cells.
- Draw chromosomes as “X” shapes (for 2 chromatids) or “I” shapes (for single chromatids).
- Always label key structures: nucleus, spindle, centrosomes, chromosomes, metaphase plate, cleavage furrow, cell plate, etc.
- Use arrows to show movement during anaphase/telophase.
- For meiosis, clearly distinguish between homologous pairs (similar size/shape) and sister chromatids (identical copies).

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✔ You now have complete, accurate answers for all 27 questions — ready to write on your worksheet and sketch diagrams on the back!

Let me know if you’d like printable diagram templates or flashcards for studying!