Question

Write briefly the significance of mitosis and meiosis in multicellular organism.

Answer 1

Significance of Mitosis:

1. Mitosis facilitates the development of a single-cell zygote into a full-grown organism
2. It facilitates the repair of worn-out or damaged tissues.
3. It facilitates vegetative propagation in flowering plants. 
4. It facilitates regeneration in some animals; like Planaria.

Significance of Meiosis:

1. Meiosis ensures that the number of chromosomes becomes diploid in gametes. This helps in ensuring the conservation of specific chromosomal numbers in each species.
2. Meiosis facilitates genetic variability in populations and this is because of crossing over events that occur during prophase–I.