What is the Difference Between Anaphase of Mitosis and Anaphase I of Meiosis?

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The main difference between anaphase of mitosis and anaphase I of meiosis lies in the type of chromosomes that separate and move towards opposite poles:

  • Anaphase of Mitosis: In mitosis, sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles. This process occurs after the centromeres divide, and the chromosomes become single-stranded.
  • Anaphase I of Meiosis: In meiosis I, homologous chromosomes (pairs of chromosomes with similar genetic information) separate and move towards opposite poles, while the sister chromatids (identical copies of a chromosome) remain attached to each other.

In summary:

Anaphase of Mitosis Anaphase I of Meiosis
Sister chromatids separate and move towards opposite poles Homologous chromosomes separate and move towards opposite poles, while sister chromatids remain attached

Comparative Table: Anaphase of Mitosis vs Anaphase I of Meiosis

The main differences between anaphase of mitosis and anaphase I of meiosis are as follows:

Feature Anaphase of Mitosis Anaphase I of Meiosis
Chromosomes Sister chromatids separate Homologous chromosomes separate
Centromere Division Centromere divides Centromere does not divide
Genetic Equivalence Chromatids moving to one pole are identical genetically to the ones moving to the opposite pole Chromosomes moving to the poles have different genetic material

During anaphase of mitosis, sister chromatids, which are identical copies of a chromosome, separate and move to opposite poles of the cell. The centromere, the point where the chromatids are connected, divides, allowing the separation to occur. In contrast, during anaphase I of meiosis, homologous chromosomes, which are pairs of chromosomes with similar but not identical genetic material, separate and move to opposite poles. The centromere does not divide in this process.