What mistakes do students make with Meiosis?

Confusing mitosis with meiosis. Put it right by stating that mitosis produces two identical diploid cells, whereas meiosis produces four genetically different haploid gametes. Thinking the chromosome number halves during mitosis. Put it right by stating that the chromosome number stays the same. Believing mitosis produces gametes. Put it right by stating that mitosis produces body cells for growth and repair.

What are the exam tips for Meiosis in Biology AQA GCSE?

State that the daughter cells are genetically identical and diploid. Use the human zygote with 46 chromosomes as a concrete example of the chromosome number staying constant. Link mitosis after fertilisation to growth and development of the organism.

AQA · GCSE · Biology

Course version: 8461 · Version from Sept 2018

Meiosis: The new cell divides by mitosis.

After fertilisation, the zygote is a single cell with the normal diploid number of chromosomes.

Checked against the AQA 8461 specification (opens in a new tab) on 21 September 2026.

Point 5 of 7

Study notes

From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.

The idea

For example: A human zygote with 46 chromosomes divides by mitosis to produce cells that also contain 46 chromosomes, allowing the embryo to develop and the organism to grow and repair tissues.

What earns the marks

The zygote formed at fertilisation divides by mitosis.
Mitosis produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell.
DNA is replicated before mitosis so each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes.
The chromosome number remains constant during mitosis, so the diploid number is maintained.
Mitosis enables growth of the organism and replacement or repair of cells.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

Confusing mitosis with meiosis.
Put it right by stating that mitosis produces two identical diploid cells, whereas meiosis produces four genetically different haploid gametes.
Thinking the chromosome number halves during mitosis.
Put it right by stating that the chromosome number stays the same.
Believing mitosis produces gametes.
Put it right by stating that mitosis produces body cells for growth and repair.

Exam tips

State that the daughter cells are genetically identical and diploid.
Use the human zygote with 46 chromosomes as a concrete example of the chromosome number staying constant.
Link mitosis after fertilisation to growth and development of the organism.

Try the lesson

The start of the Meiosis: The new cell divides by mitosis. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.

Have a go first

After fertilisation, the new cell divides by mitosis. What is the main result of mitosis in this new cell?

Tip: press 1 to 4 to choose

Listen

After fertilisation, the zygote is a single cell with the normal diploid number of chromosomes. To grow into a multicellular organism, this cell must divide repeatedly. It does so by mitosis, a type of cell division that produces two genetically identical daughter cells. Before each division, the DNA is replicated so that each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes. The chromosome number stays the same, so the diploid number is maintained throughout growth. For example, a human zygote with 46 chromosomes divides by mitosis to produce cells that also contain 46 chromosomes, allowing the embryo to develop and the organism to grow and repair tissues. A strong answer earns marks for these points. The zygote formed at fertilisation divides by mitosis. Mitosis produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell. DNA is replicated before mitosis so each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes. The chromosome number remains constant during mitosis, so the diploid number is maintained. A common slip: Confusing mitosis with meiosis. Instead, stating that mitosis produces two identical diploid cells, whereas meiosis produces four genetically different haploid gametes. Exam tip: State that the daughter cells are genetically identical and diploid.

See it

A top-down flowchart with eight boxes linked by arrows. The first box reads 'Zygote formed at fertilisation' and points to 'DNA replicated', which points to 'Cell divides by mitosis'. That points to 'Two genetically identical daughter cells', which points to 'Chromosome number stays the same', which points to 'Diploid number maintained'. From 'Diploid number maintained' two arrows branch out: one to 'Growth and development of the organism' and one to 'Replacement or repair of cells'. — It shows the zygote replicating its DNA and dividing by mitosis to give two genetically identical daughter cells, keeping the diploid number constant and enabling growth, development and repair.

Label the diagram

Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.

The diagram again, with 3 boxes numbered instead of named. A top-down flowchart with eight boxes linked by arrows. The first box reads 'Zygote formed at fertilisation' and points to 'DNA replicated', which points to 'Cell divides by mitosis'. That points to 'Two genetically identical daughter cells', which points to 'Chromosome number stays the same', which points to 'Diploid number maintained'. From 'Diploid number maintained' two arrows branch out: one to 'Growth and development of the organism' and one to 'Replacement or repair of cells'.

1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3

0 of 3 labelled

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