What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

Both are types of cell division, but they serve very different purposes in the body.

Mitosis

• One division, producing two daughter cells
• Daughter cells are genetically identical to the parent cell
• Used for growth, tissue repair, and replacing worn-out cells

Meiosis

• Two rounds of division, producing four daughter cells
• Each cell has half the chromosomes of the parent (haploid), and genetic material is shuffled through crossing over
• Only happens in reproductive organs, to produce sperm and egg cells

Meiosis is why offspring are genetically similar to, but not identical copies of, their parents — the shuffling of genetic material during meiosis creates new combinations.