Mitosis (M phase) has four stages: (1) Prophase - chromosomes condense and become visible as two sister chromatids, the spindle begins to form and the nuclear membrane and nucleolus start to disappear. (2) Metaphase - chromosomes align at the equator (metaphase plate) and spindle fibres attach to their centromeres. (3) Anaphase - the centromeres split and sister chromatids move to opposite poles. (4) Telophase - chromosomes reach the poles, decondense, and the nuclear membrane and nucleolus reappear, forming two nuclei.

Meiosis is a type of cell division that occurs in the reproductive cells and consists of two successive divisions, meiosis I and meiosis II, but only one round of DNA replication. It produces four haploid daughter cells from one diploid parent cell, so it is also called reductional division. Significance: (1) it halves the chromosome number so that fertilisation restores the diploid number in the next generation; and (2) crossing over during meiosis I produces genetic variation, which is important for evolution.

Transpiration is the loss of water in the form of water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant, mainly through the stomata of leaves. Significance: it creates a transpiration pull that helps in the upward transport (ascent) of water and minerals, cools the plant surface, and helps in the absorption of water by roots. Factors affecting it include light, temperature, humidity of the air, and wind speed - transpiration increases with light, higher temperature and wind, but decreases with high humidity.