Mitosis and Meiosis

• Zygote


  A single cell formed from the fertilization of a sperm and an egg
• Mitosis


  1. One cell divides into two genetically identical diploid daughter cells

  2. DNA is copied

  3. Chromosomes line up and are pulled apart

  4. Cell splits into two
• All human body cells have 46 chromosomes, except gametes (sperm and egg) and red blood cells
• Diploid cells have the full 46 chromosomes
• Mitosis is used for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction
• Mitosis creates genetically identical copies of a cell
• Haploid cells


  Cells with 23 chromosomes, such as sperm and egg
• Meiosis


  1. One diploid cell divides twice to produce four haploid cells

  2. Chromosomes are reduced from 46 to 23
• Offspring from sexual reproduction are genetically different due to the random combination of chromosomes from the parents during meiosis
• Mitosis


  One diploid cell becomes two diploid daughter cells
• Meiosis


  One diploid cell becomes four haploid cells