What is a key difference between mitosis and meiosis?

The distinction between mitosis and meiosis is primarily rooted in their functions and the types of cells they produce. Mitosis is a process that occurs in somatic or body cells, resulting in two identical daughter cells that have the same genetic material as the parent cell. This is crucial for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction.

On the other hand, meiosis is specifically related to the formation of gametes—sperm and eggs—in sexually reproducing organisms. This process involves two rounds of division and results in four genetically diverse daughter cells, which have half the number of chromosomes compared to the original cell. This genetic diversity is important for evolution and adaptation in populations.

The other options either misrepresent the characteristics of mitosis and meiosis or confuse their definitions and implications, thus making them incorrect in the context of the key differences between these two processes. Mitosis is not linked to sexual reproduction, nor does it produce gametes, and the outcomes of divisions in both processes are distinctly different in terms of the number of cells and their genetic makeup.