What is a primary difference between mitosis and meiosis?

The primary difference between mitosis and meiosis lies in the outcomes of their processes. Mitosis is designed to produce two genetically identical daughter cells from a single parent cell, having the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This process is essential for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in organisms. The identical nature of the daughter cells ensures that the genetic material is preserved, which is particularly important for maintaining the functions and characteristics of the organism.

In contrast, meiosis is a specialized form of cell division that occurs only in the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells) and results in four genetically diverse haploid cells, each with half the number of chromosomes of the original cell. This genetic diversity is crucial for sexual reproduction and contributes to variations within a population.

The other options do not accurately reflect the principles of mitosis. For example, the option stating that mitosis produces four genetically diverse cells is characteristic of meiosis, the one claiming that mitosis occurs only in gametes misrepresents its broader role in growth and repair, and the comparison of cellular structures is misleading as mitosis focuses on producing identical cells. Thus, the uniqueness of mitosis in producing two identical daughter cells is a cornerstone principle distinguishing it from meios