Which of the following statements correctly compares mitosis and meiosis?

• A. Mitosis involves two rounds of cell division, whereas meiosis involves only one.
• B. Both mitosis and meiosis result in the production of four identical daughter cells.
• C. Meiosis occurs in somatic cells, while mitosis occurs in gametes.
• D. Mitosis results in two identical daughter cells, while meiosis results in four genetically diverse daughter cells.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the purpose of mitosis and meiosis: Mitosis is a process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, primarily for growth and repair in somatic (body) cells. Meiosis, on the other hand, is a specialized form of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four genetically diverse daughter cells, and is used in the production of gametes (sperm and eggs).
2. Identify the number of cell divisions: Mitosis involves a single round of cell division, whereas meiosis consists of two rounds of cell division, known as meiosis I and meiosis II.
3. Compare the outcomes of the processes: Mitosis results in two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell and to each other. In contrast, meiosis results in four daughter cells that are genetically diverse due to processes like crossing over and independent assortment.
4. Clarify where each process occurs: Mitosis occurs in somatic cells, which are all the cells forming the body except for the gametes. Meiosis occurs in the germ cells, which are involved in sexual reproduction to produce gametes.
5. Evaluate the given statements: Analyze each statement based on the understanding of mitosis and meiosis. The correct statement is that mitosis results in two identical daughter cells, while meiosis results in four genetically diverse daughter cells.