Describe the process of mitosis and meiosis.

Mitosis:

Mitosis has 4 stages total and produces 2 diploid daughter cells. The purpose of mitosis is for cellular proliferation. Since we only get 2 daughter cells, the chromosome number remains the same and generic variation doesn't occur.

Meiosis:

Meiosis has 8 stages total and produces 4 haploid daughter cells. In the shortest nutshell, meiosis is mitosis but twice. The purpose of meiosis is sexual reproduction. Since we get 4 daughter cells, the chromosome number is halved and generic variation does occur.

The process of dividing the pre-existing cell into two or more daughter cells is called cell division.

Mitosis

Mitosis is defined as the division of the cell in which a single cell divides to form two daughter cells, having the equal number of chromosomes as present in the mother cell. In mitosis cell division, chromosomes duplicate and equally distribute into two diploid cells. Thus as a result, all the daughter cells come to have the same number of chromosomes compared to the mother cell. It occurs in somatic or vegetative cells.

Meiosis

Meiosis is a types of cell division in which a mother cell divides into four daughter cells and each daughter cell having only the half number of chromosomes as compared to mother cell. Meiosis cell division comprises two divisions: Meiosis I and Meiosis II

The meiosis I division is also known as reduction division. This is because it involves the formation of two daughter nuclei with just half number of chromosomes as that present in the another cell. more over, in the prophase stage of meiosis, crossing over ( interchange of chromosome segments between two homologous chromosomes) takes place. This causes the variation in the off-spring and gas a role in evolution.

The meiosis II is also called equational division because the number of chromosomes remains the same in the daughter nuclei as after meiosis I. In this way, four daughter haploid nuclei formed. Then the divison of cytoplasm of the cell ( cytokinesis) takes place and all nuclei get their own cytoplasm and form four haploids.

Hope this helps....

Good luck on your assignment...