Fiducia TogetherMitosis and meiosis
Two kinds of cell division. One makes copies, the other makes gametes.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
Mitosis produces two genetically identical diploid cells, for growth and repair. Meiosis produces four genetically different haploid gametes, for sexual reproduction.
Where it applies
GCSE biology and combined science.
How it works
Diploid cells have the full set of chromosomes; haploid have half, so fertilisation restores the full number.
Meiosis creates variation through the way chromosomes are shuffled — which is why siblings differ and clones do not.
How to use it in your work
Two, identical, diploid versus four, different, haploid. Learn that pair of triplets and most questions are answerable.
When asked about variation, meiosis and fertilisation together are the answer, not mutation alone.
Where to get help
Your teacher, your board's specification for the depth required at your tier, and Bitesize for the diagrams. The subject song runs the topics in order.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Biology Song The GCSE biology specification, set to music.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.