Significance of mitosis

• It helps in maintaining the same number of chromosomes in daughter cells after division.
• It is responsible for growth and development of multicellular organisms.
• It helps in repairing of damaged tissues.
• It helps the cell to maintain proper size.

Significance of meiosis

• Meiosis is responsible for the formation of sex cells or gametes that are responsible for sexual reproduction.
• It activates the genetic information for the development of sex cells and deactivates the sporophytic information.
• It maintains the constant number of chromosomes by halving the same. This is important because the chromosome number doubles after fertilization.
• In this process independent assortment of maternal and paternal chromosomes takes place. Thus, the chromosomes and the traits controlled by them are reshuffled.
• The genetic mutation occurs due to irregularities in cell division by meiosis. The mutations that are beneficial are carried on by natural selection.
• Crossing over produces a new combination of traits and variations.