Question

Which gives more genetic variations? Mitosis or meiosis. And name the event that creates the variety.

Answer 1

Meiosis creates more genetic variation. This is because it produces 4 daughter cells, none of which are genetically identical, while mitosis produces 2 identical daughter cells (which are identical to the parent cell).

Independent assortment and crossing over are what give meiosis genetic variation- independent assortment is the random arrangement of chromosomes during meiosis- the cells are randomly given the alleles of either chromosome in the homologous chromosome pairs, which leads to variation due to this random order (equal chance of either "parent cell"'s allele to be in each newly formed cell).

Crossing over is when genes are exchanged between homologous chromosomes, resulting in recombinant chromosomes that may contain genes from both "parent cells".

Hope this helps!

Note: there really aren't two "parent cells"- technically, meiosis occurs when one diploid cell divides twice to produce 4 haploid cells. However, since meiosis is how gametes (which are haploid cells) are produced, (from 2 haploid to 1 diploid and, through meiosis, 4 more haploid), it is simpler to think of it that way.