Meiosis and Mitosis
Meiosis and Mitosis entail the process of eukaryotic cell division, particularly of the nucleus. Both processes share a number of similarities but also differ on a range of factors. According to Gellert (2018), the key similarity between meiosis and mitosis is that they result in the formation of new cells. The processes also differ in various ways as discussed in the following sections.
Meiosis entails two nuclear divisions of two (diploid) cells resulting in the formation of four distinct nuclei, that is, two cells divide into four different cells. The resulting nuclei are genetically different and share a single chromosome set which is half the count of the original diploid cell. Meiosis is divided into meiosis I and meiosis II. During meiosis I, the homologous chromosomes divide to form dissimilar nuclei thereby reducing the ploidy level (Gellert, 2018). However, meiosis II, or second division takes place much more like a mitotic division.
Mitotic division or mitosis involves the nuclear division of a single cell resulting in the formation of two distinct but identical nuclei, that is, one cell divides into two different cells which are identical to the parent cell. The two nuclei formed out of mitosis share the same genetic identity as the parent cell. Mainly they have an equal number of groups of genetic material: diploid cells will have two chromosomes, and haploid cells will have one chromosome (Gellert, 2018). Therefore, the key difference between meiosis and mitosis is in the conduct of the chromosomes in the course of each process.
The cells formed out of a meiosis process especially in animals or diploid-dominant organisms only play a part in sexual reproduction hence the name ‘sexual reproduction’. Equally, the cells formed out of a mitosis process work in various parts of the body to help in growth or help to replace damaged or dead cells (Gellert, 2018). It is hence also referred to as ‘asexual reproduction’.
Mendel’s Law of Independent Assortment
Mendel’s law of independent assortment resulted from Mendel’s research on generational resemblance among families over long periods. His work focused on helping to explain why children inherited various features, called traits, from their parents. Mendel conducted his research using garden peas. He chose peas as the subject because the plants reproduce through sex just like human beings. The peas produce both female and male cells that are referred to as gametes (Mendel and Bateson, 2018). Mendel ensured that the peas and experiments were cautiously controlled by studying only one trait at a time.
The data collected was analyzed statistically. The results showed that each trait exhibited by the organisms was controlled by two factors. The factors are known as genes and they are found on chromosomes. Genes are in alternate forms, and the dissimilar gene forms are called alleles. Through his research studies, Mendel identified that different genes were hereditary autonomously of one another, hence the law of independent assortment. According to the law of independent assortment, every individual has two alleles of each gene and once the process of gamete production is completed, each gamete formed receives one of the alleles autonomously from one another. The law implies that each allele that goes to the gamete for one gene has no effect on the allele that goes to a different gene (Mendel and Bateson, 2018). The law is physically based on meiosis I which involves the process of gamete formation.
References
Gellert, A. (2018). Similarities of mitosis and meiosis. Sceiencing.com. Web.
Mendel, W. and Bateson, W. (2018). Mendel’s principles of heredity. Palala Press