Final answer:
The answer is Option 2: there is genetic variation in the daughter cells produced during meiosis, but the daughter cells produced during mitosis are genetically identical to the parent cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
There is indeed a genetic difference between daughter cells produced during mitosis and meiosis. The correct answer is Option 2: Yes, in meiosis but genetically the same in mitosis. Mitosis results in the production of two genetically identical diploid daughter cells, maintaining the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This process is vital for growth, cellular repair, and asexual reproduction. On the other hand, meiosis creates four genetically distinct haploid daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes compared to the parent cell. This reduction is critical for sexual reproduction, allowing for genetic diversity when gametes fuse during fertilization.
Mitosis is characterized by one round of cell division, leading to the formation of two daughter cells. In contrast, meiosis involves two rounds of cell divisions, culminating in four non-identical daughter cells that are used as gametes in reproduction. These different outcomes are crucial for the respective functions of each process: mitosis in somatic cell maintenance and meiosis in creating genetic variation for the offspring.