Mississippi Science FB.3.6
The Standard
- FB.3
- Students will demonstrate an understanding of how the structure of living organisms supports the essential functions of life.
Compare and contrast the processes and results of mitosis and meiosis.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · Organization and Energy in Living Systems
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students compare how chromosomes move through one division in mitosis and two in meiosis. They track the number of cells made, the chromosome count in each cell, and whether the cells have matching DNA. They connect mitosis to growth and repair, and meiosis to making sperm or eggs.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given a starting cell with six chromosomes, students predict two matching cells with six chromosomes each after mitosis. They predict four genetically different cells with three chromosomes each after meiosis and explain which chromosomes separate in each division.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think meiosis makes identical cells or that mitosis cuts the chromosome number in half. Some count an X-shaped chromosome as two chromosomes before its halves separate.
How to Assess It
- Give students a diagram of a cell with six chromosomes. Ask them to draw and label the cells made by mitosis and meiosis, including the chromosome count in each.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Build replicated chromosome pairs with colored pipe cleaners; model mitosis and meiosis, then count chromosomes in each resulting cell.
Ask: Why does healing a cut use mitosis, while making sperm or eggs uses meiosis? Explain with chromosome counts.
Give pairs cards showing chromosome positions and resulting cells; have them sort the cards into mitosis or meiosis and explain one choice.
Show a chart of a human cell with 46 chromosomes; ask students to predict the counts in a new skin cell and a sperm cell.
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Printable FB.3.6 Worksheet
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Related Standards
- BIO.3A.1
Model sex cell formation (meiosis) and combination (fertilization) to demonstrate the maintenance of chromosome number through each generation in sexually repro...
- L.8.2A.2
Create a diagram of mitosis and explain its role in asexual reproduction, which results in offspring with identical genetic information.
- BIO.3A.2
Compare and contrast mitosis and meiosis in terms of reproduction.
- L.8.2A.5
Compare and contrast advantages and disadvantages of asexual and sexual reproduction.
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