Final answer:
Mitosis is a nuclear division creating two identical daughter cells, commonly occurring in somatic cells, while meiosis involves two nuclear divisions resulting in four unique gametes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student is contrasting mitosis and meiosis, two processes of eukaryotic cell division, by describing various characteristics. Here's the appropriate association for each statement based on the information provided:
B: results in daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell - mitosis
C: creates gametes - meiosis
D: happens only in certain kinds of cells in the body - meiosis
E: happens more often in somatic cells, such as stomach lining cells, than in nerve cells, such as brain cells - mitosis
F: involves duplication of genetic material - Both mitosis and meiosis
To clarify, mitosis is a single nuclear division leading to two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell. Mitosis occurs throughout the body, especially in somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis consists of two nuclear divisions and results in four non-identical daughter cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell—these are the gametes, like sperm and eggs. To address misconceptions:
Organisms reproducing through mitosis produce genetically identical daughter cells, whereas those reproducing through meiosis produce genetically different daughter cells.
Crossing over or mixing of chromosomes occurs in meiosis, but not in mitosis.
Mitosis results in two diploid cells if the parent cell is diploid, while meiosis results in four haploid cells.