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How Cells Divide: Mitosis vs. Meiosis
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Mitosis


Meiosis





Interphase
Interphase is the period between cell divisions. During this time, chromosomes replicate—each DNA strand unzips into two strands while free-floating bases attach to the unzipped strands. The chromosomes are loosely packed and not visible with a microscope.

Two pair of centrioles lie just outside the nucleus, next to each other. A centriole is a cylindrical structure within the cell that plays a part in cell reproduction.


Interphase I
The activities within this cell are the same as in the mitosis-dividing cell.

NOTE: Blue indicates chromosomes from the father; orange indicates chromosomes from the mother. The titles used for each step—e.g., "Interphase," Interphase I"—are those used in biology textbooks.



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