One difference between mitosis and meiosis in animal cells is that mitosis produces two identical daughter cells with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell, while meiosis produces four genetically diverse daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
During mitosis, a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This process is important for growth, development, and repair of tissues in multicellular organisms.
During meiosis, a single diploid cell (with two sets of chromosomes) undergoes two rounds of cell division to produce four haploid daughter cells (with only one set of chromosomes). The process of meiosis creates genetic diversity by shuffling and recombining genetic material from the two sets of chromosomes, a process known as crossing over. This genetic diversity is important for sexual reproduction and evolution.