Mitosis and meiosis are both forms of cell division, however their processes are not identical. Mitosis occurs in somatic cells (cells that are not gametes) and produces two genetically identical daughter cells. Mitosis occurs to replace dead or damaged cells or during growth. Mitosis is composed of 4 phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. DNA replication occurs during the S phase which precedes the mitotic phase. During prophase, chromatin condenses into chromosomes and the mitotic spindle forms (textbook, 94). During metaphase, chromosomes align along the center of the cell, known as the metaphase plate. During anaphase, pairs of chromatids separate and each half of the pair is called a chromosome. During telophase, the last stage of mitosis, identical sets of chromosomes are found at opposite poles of the cell, the chromosomes revert to chromatin, and a nuclear envelope reforms around each set of chromatin. The division of the cytoplasm after nuclear division is called cytokinesis (textbook, 95). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Meiosis, in contrast, occurs in gametes (sex cells), produces four genetically different daughter cells, and involves two divisions of genetic material. Meiosis is divided into two parts: meiosis I and meiosis II, both consisting of four parts. Meiosis I occurs first after DNA replication and consists of prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I, and telophase I. Prophase I, just like prophase in mitosis, occurs when the chromosomes shorten and the mitotic spindle forms. However, unlike prophase in mitosis, the two genetically identical sister chromatids pair up and crossover occurs between non-sister chromatids. Crossover is the very important reason why no two people have the same DNA. Metaphase I is very similar to the metaphase of mitosis because the homologous pairs of chromosomes align along the metaphase plate. In anaphase I, homologous pairs of chromosomes are separated and pulled to opposite sides of the cell leaving the paired chromatids still together (textbook, 97). Meiosis I results in two genetically different haploid cells after telophase I and cytokinesis that are similar to the telophase and cytokinesis of mitosis. Meiosis II consists of prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, and telophase II. Prophase II is similar to prophase in mitosis, and no crossover occurs during prophase II. Metaphase II occurs when sister chromatids align along the metaphase plate. During anaphase II the sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles of the cell. The final stage of meiosis is telophase II and cytokinesis in which the nuclear envelopes reform and four genetically diverse haploid gametes are formed as a result of the original single diploid cell (textbook, 97). Works Cited Campbell, N.A., Urry, L.A., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V., & Jackson, R.B. (2018). Biology (12th ed.). Pearson.Alberts, B., Johnson, A., Lewis, J., Raff, M., Roberts, K., & Walter, P. (2007). Molecular biology of the cell (5th ed.). Garland Science.Sadava, D., Hillis, D. M., Heller, H. C., & Berenbaum, M. R. (2016). Life: The Science of Biology (11th ed.). W. H. Freeman.Lodish, H., Berk, A., Kaiser, C. A., Krieger, M., Scott, M. P., Bretscher, A., ... & Matsudaira, P. (2003). Molecular Cell Biology (5th ed.). W. H. Freeman. Purves, W. K., Sadava, D., Orians, G. H., & Heller, H. C. (2004). Life: The science of biology (7th ed.). Sinauer Associates.Reece, J.B., Urry, L.A., Cain, M.L., Wasserman, S.A., Minorsky, P.V., & Jackson, R.B. (2014). Campbell Biology (10th ed.). Pearson.Nelson, D.L., Cox, M.M. (2017). Lehninger Principles of.