Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam 2026 – The All-in-One Guide to Exam Success!

Mitosis and meiosis are two distinct processes of cell division that serve different purposes and result in variations in chromosome number.

When considering how they differ in terms of chromosome number, mitosis is characterized by the preservation of the chromosome number. It produces two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell, maintaining the same diploid chromosome number (in organisms that are diploid). This means there is no reduction in the number of chromosomes during mitosis; rather, the chromosome number remains constant throughout the division.

In contrast, meiosis is the process that leads to the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs) and results in a reduction of the chromosome number. Meiosis involves two rounds of division, resulting in four haploid cells, each with half the chromosome number of the original cell. This reduction is essential for maintaining the correct chromosome number when two gametes unite during fertilization.

Therefore, the correct understanding of mitosis indicates that it does not involve any reduction of chromosome number, while meiosis naturally entails such a reduction to facilitate sexual reproduction.