What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

The choice that identifies the difference between mitosis and meiosis highlights their respective roles in cellular reproduction. Mitosis is a type of cell division that occurs in somatic cells, which are any cells forming the body of an organism except for the reproductive cells. The purpose of mitosis is to allow for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction in unicellular organisms, resulting in two genetically identical daughter cells that maintain the same chromosomal number as the parent cell.

On the other hand, meiosis is specialized for the production of gametes, which are the reproductive cells in organisms that reproduce sexually. Meiosis involves two sequential divisions, known as meiosis I and meiosis II, leading to a reduction in the chromosome number by half and producing four genetically unique gametes. This genetic diversity is crucial for evolution and the variation observed in sexually reproducing populations.

Understanding this distinction is essential for grasping fundamental biological concepts related to reproduction and genetics.