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Mitosis vs Meiosis: Practice Pack

Three activities to lock in what you learned — with instant feedback online, or print the whole thing and use it offline.

Level: High School Biology Time: ~20 minutes Questions: 20 total Format: Interactive + Printable
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Activity 1

Label the Diagram

Study the side-by-side diagram. Type the correct term for each numbered label. Spelling matters, but we'll accept minor variations.

Process A ① ? ② ? 2 cells · diploid ③ ? (name) Process B ④ ? ⑤ ? 4 cells · haploid ⑥ ? (name)
1
Chromosome number of the parent cell (write as "2n" or the word).
2
The genetic relationship between Process A's daughter cells (one word).
3
The name of Process A.
4
Chromosome number of Process B's parent cell.
5
Chromosome number of Process B's daughter cells (write as "n" or the word).
6
The name of Process B.
Activity 2

Which Phase Is This?

Read the description (and examine the diagram where shown). Click the phase that matches. One attempt per question — choose carefully.

Question 7

Individual chromosomes (not pairs) line up single-file along the equator of the cell. Spindle fibers attach to each centromere.

Metaphase of mitosis. The key detail is "single-file" — individual chromosomes are aligned one by one. In metaphase I of meiosis, tetrads (paired homologs) line up instead, forming a double row.

Question 8

Homologous chromosome pairs (tetrads) line up together at the cell's equator, forming a double row. Crossing over has already occurred.

Metaphase I of meiosis. The giveaway: tetrads (paired homologs) lining up. This is also where independent assortment happens — which homolog faces which pole is random.

Question 9

Sister chromatids separate at the centromere and are pulled toward opposite poles. The starting cell was diploid.

Anaphase of mitosis. Sister chromatids separating from a diploid cell = mitosis. In anaphase I of meiosis, homologous pairs separate (not sister chromatids). Sister chromatids only separate in anaphase II of meiosis — and that starts from a haploid cell.

Question 10

Chromosomes condense, the nuclear envelope breaks down, and homologous chromosomes pair up via synapsis. Crossing over occurs.

Prophase I of meiosis. Synapsis and crossing over only occur during prophase I. This is the single most unique event in meiosis — nothing like it happens in mitosis.

Question 11

Two new nuclear envelopes reform around separated chromosomes. Chromosomes begin to decondense. The cell is preparing to split into two diploid cells.

Telophase of mitosis. The key clue is "two diploid cells." Telophase I produces two haploid cells; telophase II produces four haploid cells.

Question 12

Sister chromatids separate and move to opposite poles. The starting cell was haploid, and the result will be four total daughter cells.

Anaphase II of meiosis. Sister chromatids separating + starting from a haploid cell = anaphase II. Mechanically it looks just like mitotic anaphase, but the cell's chromosome count is different.
Activity 3

True or False — with Explanations

These are the statements students get wrong most often. Don't just guess — read each one carefully. After you answer, you'll see why it's true or false.

Q13Crossing over occurs during prophase of mitosis, as well as prophase I of meiosis.
False Crossing over only occurs in prophase I of meiosis. Homologous chromosomes don't pair up during mitosis — they stay independent — so there's no mechanism for them to exchange DNA. This is a major reason mitotic daughter cells are genetically identical while meiotic ones aren't.
Q14DNA replication happens between meiosis I and meiosis II.
False DNA replicates only once — before meiosis I. Between meiosis I and meiosis II, the cells still have their sister chromatids attached, so no replication is needed. This is why meiosis produces haploid cells: DNA replicates once but the cell divides twice.
Q15Meiosis II is mechanically very similar to mitosis.
True Meiosis II is almost identical to mitosis. Both separate sister chromatids. The only difference: meiosis II starts with haploid cells (not diploid), and there are two cells going through it simultaneously. If you understand mitosis, meiosis II is mostly free.
Q16A human cell entering meiosis has 46 chromosomes; each of the four resulting gametes has 23.
True Diploid (46) → haploid (23), four cells total. That's the whole point of meiosis: halve the chromosome count so that when sperm (23) fuses with egg (23), the embryo has the correct 46.
Q17Mitosis is a form of sexual reproduction.
False Mitosis is not sexual reproduction. In single-celled organisms, it's the basis of asexual reproduction. In multicellular organisms like humans, it's not reproduction at all — it's growth and repair. Sexual reproduction requires gametes, which are made by meiosis.
Q18Sister chromatids are genetically identical, but homologous chromosomes are not.
True Exactly right. Sister chromatids are two copies of the same chromosome made during DNA replication — they're identical. Homologous chromosomes are the maternal and paternal versions of the same chromosome — they code for the same genes but can carry different alleles. Mixing these two terms up is the #1 vocabulary mistake on biology exams.
Q19Meiosis happens in every cell of the body.
False Meiosis only happens in germ cells — specialized cells in the ovaries and testes that produce gametes. Every other cell in your body (somatic cells) divides by mitosis.
Q20Independent assortment and crossing over both contribute to genetic variation in gametes.
True Both are major sources of variation. Crossing over (prophase I) shuffles segments within each chromosome pair. Independent assortment (metaphase I) shuffles which homolog goes to which pole. Together, they ensure no two gametes — even from the same person — are genetically identical.

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Answer Key

Activity 1 — Label the Diagram

  1. Diploid (2n)
  2. Identical (clones)
  3. Mitosis
  4. Diploid (2n)
  5. Haploid (n)
  6. Meiosis

Activity 2 — Phase Identification

  1. Metaphase (of Mitosis) — single-file alignment is the tell
  2. Metaphase I — tetrads line up in a double row
  3. Anaphase (Mitosis) — sister chromatids separating from a diploid cell
  4. Prophase I — synapsis and crossing over are meiosis-only events
  5. Telophase (Mitosis) — producing two diploid cells
  6. Anaphase II — sister chromatids separating from a haploid cell

Activity 3 — True / False

  1. False — crossing over is exclusive to prophase I of meiosis
  2. False — DNA replicates once, before meiosis I only
  3. True — meiosis II and mitosis are mechanically similar
  4. True — 46 → 23, four gametes
  5. False — mitosis is not sexual reproduction
  6. True — sister chromatids are identical; homologs are not
  7. False — meiosis only happens in germ cells
  8. True — both contribute to genetic variation

Need a refresher before retrying?

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