Question

What is the difference between meiosis and mitosis?

Answer 1

-Mitosis produces two copies with the exact same genetic material. So a diploid cell will produce two diploid cells identicals to itself. This is how somatic cells reproduce.
-Meiosis produces four cells with half the genetic material, so a diploid cell will produce four haploid cells. This is used to produce gametes. Also, genetic recombination occurs between homologous chromosomes before they separate for the division. So the resulting cells aren't identical to the cell they come from, they have recombined material and they have half of the chromosome sets a somatic cell would have.

Answer 2

Mitosis is the replication of exact copies of cells. most cells in your body undergo this process in order to duplicate. These cells go through interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase before completely splitting.

However meiosis only occurs in sex cells (sperm/egg). These cells (technically) divide twice, thats why they have interphase, prophase, etc. then they have Interphase 2, prophase 2, etc.

This extra split in chromosomes allows for the sperm and egg to combine with the right ammount of genes later on.