| S.N. | Mitosis | Meiosis |
| 1. | It occurs in all kinds of cells (generally somatic cells) and may continue throughout the life. | It occurs only in special cells (gamete mother cells or spore mother cells) at specific times. |
| 2. | Cell divides once producing two genetically identical daughter cells. | Cell divides twice producing four non-identical daughter cells. |
| 3. | All mitotic divisions are alike. | Two meiotic divisions are dissimilar, first is reductional and second equational. |
| 4. | Each mitotic division is preceded by an interphase. | The second meiotic division is generally not preceded by an interphase. |
| 5. | Chromosomes replicate before each mitotic division. | Chromosomes don’t replicate before second meiotic division. |
| 6. | Mitosis brings about growth, repair and healing in living organisms. | It forms gametes or spores and helps maintain the constant chromosomes number in each generation, and also introduces variation. |
| Prophase: | ||
| 7. | It is relatively short and simple. | Prophase I is very long and elaborate, comprising 5 sub-phases. |
| 8. | There is no pairing of homologous chromosomes. | Homologous chromosomes pair up in prophase I (Zygotene). |
| 9. | No chiasmata are formed and hence crossing over doesn’t occur. | Chiasmata are formed and crossing over occurs (Pachytene). |
| 10. | No synaptonemal complex forms between the chromosomes. | Synaptonemal complex is formed between the synapsed homologous chromosomes. |
| Metaphase: | ||
| 11. | Chromatids of chromosomes lie in the equator. | Chromatids of chromosomes lie in equator only in meiosis II. |
| 12. | Centromeres lie in the middle of the spindle fibers in the same plane (single plane). | Centromeres lie in the upper and lower part at equal distance from the equatorial plane (two planes formed). |
| 13. | The kinetochores of a chromosome connect to both the poles of the spindle. | The kinetochores of a chromosome connect to the same spindle pole in metaphase I and to both the poles in metaphase II. |
| Anaphase: | ||
| 14. | Centromeres divide. | Centromeres don’t divide in meiosis I but they divide only in meiosis II. |
| 15. | Chromatids of a chromosome separate from each other. | Chromatids of chromosomes don’t separate in meiosis I. They separate only in meiosis II. |
| 16. | Chromatids are genetically identical to the chromosomes they arise from. | Chromatids may differ genetically from the chromosomes they arise from due to crossing over. |
| Telophase: | ||
| 17. | Telophase occurs in all cases. | Telophase I is eliminated in few cases. |
| 18. | Daughter cells have diploid number of chromosomes like the mother cell. | Daughter cells have haploid number of chromosomes unlike the mother cell. |
| 19. | Both the homologous chromosomes are present in each daughter cell. | Only one chromosome of the homologous pair is present in each daughter cell. |
| 20. | Cytokinesis usually follows karyokinesis. | Cytokinensis often doesn’t occur after meiosis I, but always occur after meiosis II. |