GENERAL BIOLOGY I

Name of Learner: _______________________________ Grade Level: ___________

Section: ___________________________________ Date: _________________

LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

SIGNIFICANCE OR APPLICATIONS OF MITOSIS/MEIOSIS

BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR LEARNERS

Did you know that all life forms are made up of cells? Yes! In fact, your body contains
trillions of cells but you only came from a single egg cell fertilized by a single sperm cell to form
a single-celled zygote. You might wonder how this single cell gave rise to the trillions of cells
you have in your body, surely you do, right? We have mitosis and meiosis to thank for. I know,
you’re excited, so let’s begin.

Cells divide and reproduce in two ways, mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis results in two
identical daughter cells, whereas meiosis results in four sex cells. They are both vital processes
for the existence of living things that reproduce sexually. Meiosis makes the cells needed for
sexual reproduction (sperm cells and eggs) to occur and mitosis replicates non-sex cells (somatic
or body cells) needed for growth and development. Together, they provide the cellular basis for
healthy growth and sexual reproduction. Below is a tabular comparison which highlights the key
differences and similarities between the two types of cell division:
Table 1: Comparison of Mitosis/Meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
1.Requires one nuclear division 1.Requires two nuclear divisions
2. Chromosomes do not synapse nor 2. Chromosomes synapse and cross over
cross over
3.Occurs in all organisms except viruses 3.Occurs only in animals, plants and fungi
4.Creates all body cells 4. Creates germ cells (egg and sperm) only
5. Preserves chromosome number 5.Halves chromosome number
6.Produces two daughter nuclei 6.Produces four daughter nuclei
7.Daughter cells are genetically identical 7. Daughter cells are genetically different
8. Used for asexual reproduction and 8. Used only for sexual reproduction
growth
(Source: http://courses.washington.edu/bot113/spring/WebReadings/Pdf

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 LEARNING COMPETENCY

 Explain the significance or applications of mitosis/meiosis (1 QUARTER, WEEK 4,

STEM_BIO11/12-Id-f-8)

LEARNING ACTIVITY 1
MITOSIS TO THE RESCUE

READ

Read the selection below about the significance of mitosis and answer the questions
that follow

Have you ever been sunburned, cut your skin, or bruised it? Have you noticed how a cut
on your finger is gradually repaired in a few days? We have mitosis to thank for this. Mitosis is
the process responsible for the following important living processes:

A. Regeneration and repair. Regeneration and replacement of worn-out and damaged

tissues is a very important function of mitosis in living organisms. Mitosis helps in the
production of identical copies of cells and thus helps in repairing the damaged tissue or
replacing the worn-out cells.

B. Cell growth and development. Cells can grow old and wear off or they can get
bruised and injured but eventually, they repair and regenerate. Mitosis help in increasing
the number of cells in a living organism thereby playing a significant role in the growth
of a living organism.

C. Genetic stability. Mitosis helps in the splitting of chromosomes during cell division
and generates two new daughter cells. Therefore, the chromosomes from the parent
chromosomes by copying the exact Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA). Therefore, the
daughter cells formed as genetically uniform and identical to the parent as well as to each
other. Thus mitosis helps in preserving and maintaining the genetic stability of a
particular population.

D. Asexual reproduction- Mitosis is used in the production of genetically similar

offspring. For example budding of hydra and yeast, binary fission in amoeba, etc.

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 Source:https://www.toppr.com/guides/biology/cell-cycle-and-cell-division/mitosis/

STOPOVER

1. Based on what you have just read or learned about the significance /importance
of mitosis, HOW IS HEALING OF A WOUND RELATED TO MITOSIS?
Explain and justify your answer.
Write your answers here

2. Some organisms are capable of reproducing asexually through processes such

as budding. Is this an example of mitosis? Why or why not?

Write your answers here

3. Predict what could happen to the cell if it cannot undergo mitosis.

Write your answers here

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 LEARNING ACTIVITY 2
LET’S MULTIPLY WITH MEIOSIS

READ

Read the selection below about the significance of meiosis and answer
the questions that follow

Meiosis is a form of cell division which functions in the production of gametes (sex cells
such as sperm and ovum (egg) in animals. Organisms that reproduce sexually are thought to have
an advantage over organisms that reproduce asexually, because novel combinations of genes are
possible in each generation. Furthermore, with few exceptions, each individual in a population of
sexually reproducing organisms has a distinct genetic
composition. We have meiosis to thank for this variety.
Meiosis has a very important role in the following
biological processes:
A. Diversity. One of the benefits of sexual reproduction
is the diversity it produces within a population. That variety
is a direct product of meiosis. Every sex cell made from
meiosis has a unique combination of chromosomes. This https://wwww.Shutterstock.com
means that no two sperm or egg cells are genetically identical. Every fertilization event produces
new combination of traits. This is why siblings share DNA with parents and each other but are
not identical to one another. Crossing over produces a new combination of traits and variations.
Meiosis continually reshuffles the genes resulting in a great variety of offspring. Without meiosis
we would all look alike. Meiosis allows each offspring to be different and so potentially better
than the parent. If a disease comes along, there is a good chance that some of the population
would not get sick or die because everyone’s DNA is not exactly alike.
B. Production of gametes. Meiosis is a form of cell division which functions in the
production of gametes (sex cells such as sperm and ovum (egg) in animals). It reduces the
number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells. This process
is required to produce egg and sperm cells for sexual reproduction. During reproduction, when
the sperm and egg unite to form a single-celled zygote, the number of chromosomes is restored
in the offspring.
C. Activation of the genetic information. Formation of sex cells is a central part of human
reproduction. In fertilization, an egg cell and a sperm cell combine. Sperm cells are produced in
men’s testicles and egg cells are produced in women’s ovaries. Sex cells contain only half of the

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total amount of human genetic information. When sperm cell fertilizes an egg cell, the
resulting cell has a full set of genetic information again.

STOPOVER

1. Based on what you have just read or learned about the significance /importance of
Meiosis explain the importance of crossing-over and independent assortment in meiosis and
justify how it affects variation in organisms.

Write your answers here

2. In order to survive, an organism must have the correct number of chromosomes. And in
order maintain a consistent number of chromosomes within a species, what must an organism’s
germ cells do? Explain your answer.
Write your answers here

3.Predict what will happen to the cell if it cannot undergo meiosis.

Write your answers here

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 LEARNING ACTIVITY 3
MITOSIS VS MEIOSIS TABLE

Directions: Fill in the needed information in each column to compare mitosis and meiosis. Answers may
include a yes, no, x or / marks.

Mitosis Meiosis
1. Purpose of process in multicellular organisms
2. Number of daughter cells produced
3. Number of chromosomes in parent cell (human)
4. Number of chromosomes in one daughter cell
(human)
5. Daughter cells diploid (2n) or haploid (n)?
6. Daughter cells are genetically identical to parent
cell?
7. Daughter cells are genetically identical to
each other?

RUBRICS FOR SCORING

Rubrics for Written Responses in Activity 1 & 2
Score
Criteria
5 4 3 2
Writing is coherent Writing is coherent
Writing shows high and logically organized and logically
degree of attention to with transitions used organized. Some Writing lacks logical
Organization
logic and reasoning of between ideas and points remain organization.
points. paragraphs to create misplaced and stray
coherence. from the topic.
Content indicates Content indicates
Content indicates Shows some thinking
synthesis of ideas, thinking and
original thinking and and reasoning but
indepth analysis and reasoning applied
Content develops ideas with most ideas are
evidences original with original
sufficient and firm underdeveloped and
thought and support for thought on a few
evidence. unoriginal.
the topic. ideas.
Main points well Main points well Main points are
Main points lack
developed with high developed with quality present with limited
detailed development.
quality and quantity supporting details and detail and
Development Ideas are vague with
support. Reveals high quantity. Critical development. Some
little evidence of
degree of critical thinking is weaved into critical thinking is
critical thinking.
thinking. points present

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 Spelling, punctuation,
Essay is free of Essay has few spelling, Most spelling, and grammatical
distracting spelling, punctuation, and punctuation, and errors create
punctuation, and grammatical errors grammar correct distraction, making
Grammar &
grammatical errors; allowing reader to allowing reader to reading difficult;
Mechanics
absent of fragments, follow ideas clearly. progress though fragments, comma
comma splices, and Very few fragments or essay. Some errors splices, run-ons
run-ons. run-ons. remain. evident. Errors are
frequent.
REFLECTION

Congratulations our dear learner! You have already grasped much learning about mitosis
and meiosis and their significance/applications. To highlight what you have learned,
COMPLETE the concept map below:

Cell Cycle

Prokaryote
Eukaryote

Reproduces asexually through

Reproduces sexually through

produces

produces important for the following processes: important in the following processes: