Final answer:
Meiosis and mitosis both involve cell division but have different outcomes; meiosis produces genetically diverse haploid gametes due to crossing over and independent assortment, while mitosis creates genetically identical diploid daughter cells for growth and repair.
Step-by-step explanation:
The products of meiosis may not be genetically identical due to several mechanisms that introduce genetic variation. This contrasts with mitosis, which results in daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell. During meiosis, genetic variation is generated through the processes of crossing over, where homologous chromosomes exchange segments, and independent assortment, where chromosomes are randomly distributed to the daughter cells. This means that gametes (sex cells) produced by meiosis have half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell (haploid) and each is genetically unique. On the other hand, mitosis is involved in growth and repair and maintains the same chromosome number (diploid) as the parent cell, resulting in identical daughter cells.
In summary, crossing over and independent assortment during meiosis introduce genetic diversity, whereas mitosis is a conservative process that preserves the genetic makeup of the original cell. As a result, meiosis is key to sexual reproduction, where the fusion of haploid gametes creates a genetically diverse offspring, while mitosis supports an organism's growth, maintenance, and asexual reproduction.