Name: _______________________________________
Date:_____________
Mitosis vs. Meiosis Web Quest
Directions: In this web quest each step is laid out for you below. Please make sure you read each
step in the directions.
1. Type in the following URL:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/body/how-cells-divide.html
2. Read “How Cells Divide” and “Background on Mitosis and Meiosis” then answer the questions
below.
a. What are the two types of cell division?
______________________________ and ___________________________
b. Why is mitosis important?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
c. Why is meiosis important?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
d. How is a sperm cell or egg cell different from all the other cells in your body?
____________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________
3. Click on 
LAUNCH INTERACTIVE
PRINTABLE VERSION
Explore the stages of two types of cell division, mitosis and meiosis, and how these processes compare to one another.
4. Read and complete the work below. Use the <Back and Next> buttons at the bottom of the
interactive pop up box.
a. Complete the following passage.
Before We Split
___________________ results in a parent cell dividing into two daughter cells. The genetic
information within each cell of these daughter cells is ____________________.
A human cell contains ______________________________________. Though the genetic code
is contained in these 46 chromosomes only ____________ of this number is found in the cell of a
___________________ or _______________ cell.
If the cells didn’t have half the number of
chromosomes then a fertilized egg would have ______chromosomes and would be untenable (or not
able to be maintained).
Meiosis is a specific type of cell division specific to _____________________________. Each
of these cells will have only half the number of chromosomes but each chromosome will contain
genetic information from ________________________________________.
b. Click > Next, Read the information provided and complete the following table to compare
mitosis and meiosis during interphase.
Mitosis (Interphase)
Meiosis (Interphase I)
-
Chromosomes replicate
-
_______________________________
-
2 pair of centrioles are just outside the
nucleus
-
_______________________________
_______________________________
*Since there is no difference between mitosis and meiosis at interphase, sketch one cell (in
interphase) in the area below.
Mitosis & Meiosis (Interphase)
c. . Click > Next Read the information provided and complete the following table to compare
mitosis and meiosis during prophase. (Important!!!! This website breaks prophase into 2 parts so
you must also read the next step titled prometaphase.)
Mitosis (Prophase)
-
Chromosomes condense; each
chromosome is actually 2 identical copies
each is called a ___________________.
Meiosis (Prophase)
Chromosomes condense.
-
____________________ attach to
nuclear membrane and then _______ up
with their matching chromosome.
-
The chromosomes exchange sequences of
________.
-
A spindle begins to form from the
centrioles.
-
A spindle begins to form from the
centrioles.
-
Nuclear envelope breaks down
-
Nuclear envelope breaks down
-
Centrioles move to opposite ends of the
cell.
-
Centrioles move to opposite ends of the
cell.
-
Spindle fibers attach to each ______ of
the chromosomes.
-
Spindle fibers attach to a matching
__________ of chromosomes.
- Sketch the cells shown for mitosis and meiosis in areas below.
Mitosis (Prophase)
Meiosis (Prophase I)
d. Click > Next, Read the information provided and complete the following table to compare
mitosis and meiosis during metaphase.
Mitosis (Metaphase)
Meiosis (Metaphase I)
-
The chromosomes line up on the
_________________plate, an imaginary
line that divides the cell in two.
-
The chromosome _________ line up on
the ___________________plate, an
imaginary line that divides the cell in two.
-
The fibers begin to tug each chromosome
toward opposite ends of the cell.
-
The fibers begin to tug each chromosome
toward opposite ends of the cell.
- Sketch the cells shown for mitosis and meiosis in areas below.
Mitosis (Metaphase)
Meiosis (Metaphase I)
e. Click > Next, Read the information provided and complete the following table to compare
mitosis and meiosis during anaphase.
Mitosis (Anaphase)
-
The fibers pull the ________________
to opposite ends of the cell.
Meiosis (Anaphase)
-
The chromosome ___________
separate; half of the chromosomes move
to one end of the cell and the other half
to the other end.
-
The chromosomes’ sister
______________ do not separate as
they do in mitosis.
- Sketch the cells shown for mitosis and meiosis in areas below.
Mitosis (Anaphase)
Meiosis (Anaphase I)
f. Click > Next, Read the information provided and complete the following table to compare
mitosis and meiosis during telophase.
Mitosis (Telophase)
-
-
Meiosis (Telophase)
The chromatids ( now also considered
_____________________) arrive at the
opposite ends of the cell.
A new nuclear membrane forms.
-
-
Same as mitosis; the
_________________ arrive at opposite
ends of the cell.
A new _________________ membrane
forms.
Mitosis, which is only the division of the
__________________, is now complete!!!!!!!!!!!
f. Click Next, Read the information on cytokinesis and define it below. (We will explore
cytokenisis in mitosis and meiosis this at the end)
- What is cytokinesis?
g. Click Next. Read and complete the work below for meiosis interphase II. ( Note mitosis is
finished so its screen will remain the same.)
Meiosis (Interphase II)
-
The chromosomes do _______ replicate.
- How is interphase I and interphase II different?
h. Click Next, Read meiosis: prophase II and complete the work below. (Remember this website
breaks up prophase into 2 steps so you must also read about prometaphase.)
Meiosis (Prophase II)
-
The chromosomes _____________,
spindles form, the __________________
begin to separate.
-
The ______________ membrane
fragments and disperses.
-
The spindle fibers attach to the
____________________. The centrioles
are now at opposite ends of the cell.
- What is the difference between prophase I and prophase II? (answer on step 10 of 15)
- Sketch a picture of meiosis: prophase II below. (Remember to use the illustration titled
prometaphase II)
Meiosis (Prophase II)
i. Click Next, Read meiosis: metaphase II and complete the following.
Meiosis (Metaphase II)
-
The __________________ align along the
metaphase plate.
-
Fibers from the centrioles begin to pull on
each one of the ___________________
.
- Sketch a picture of meiosis: metaphase II.
Meiosis ( Metaphase II)
j. Click Next, Read meiosis: anaphase II and complete the following.
Meiosis ( Anaphase II)
-
The fibers pull the ___________________ apart
and toward the opposite ends of the cell.
- Sketch a the cells shown in meiosis: anaphase II.
Meiosis ( Anaphase II)
k. Click Next; read and complete the work for meiosis; telophase II.
Meiosis ( Telophase II)
-
__________________ arrive at either end of the
dividing cell.
-
New _________________ membranes form.
- How is meiosis different for males and females?
l. Click Next, Sketch the final resulting cells now that cytokinesis is complete for both mitosis
and meiosis.
Mitosis and Cytokinesis Complete
Meiosis and Cytokinesis Complete
- Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis. (Be sure to give 2 similarities and 2 differences)