If the process of mitosis goes wrong, it usually happens in a middle phase of mitosis called metaphase, in which the chromosomes move to the center of the cell and align in an area called the metaphase plate. These mutations can lead to harmful results such as cell death, organic disease or cancer.

During cytokinesis, the cytoplasm of the cell is divided in half, and the cell membrane grows to enclose each cell, forming two separate cells as a result. The end result of mitosis and cytokinesis is two genetically identical cells where only one cell existed before.

Like mitosis, meiosis is a form of eukaryotic cell division. Mitosis creates two identical daughter cells that each contain the same number of chromosomes as their parent cell. In contrast, meiosis gives rise to four unique daughter cells, each of which has half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Without meiosis, organisms would not be able to reproduce effectively. If organisms did not undergo mitosis, then they would not be able to grow and replace worn-out cells. They are two of the most important cellular process in existence.

Meiosis only occurs in reproductive cells, as the goal is to create haploid gametes that will be used in fertilization. Meiosis is important to, but not the same as, sexual reproduction. Meiosis is necessary for sexual reproduction to occur, as it results in the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs).

In plants this occurs in the archegonia in females and in the antheridia in males. In fungi this occurs in specialized structures on fruiting bodies called sporangia.

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Although eukaryotes and prokaryotes both engage in cell division, they do so in different ways. In particular, eukaryotic cells divide using the processes of mitosis and meiosis. Meiosis, on the other hand, only occurs in eukaryotic organisms that reproduce sexually.