The best way to compare the products of mitosis and meiosis is:
The cells produced by mitosis are identical to each other and to the parent cell, while the cells produced by meiosis are not identical to each other or to the parent cell.
Explanation:
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Mitosis results in two daughter cells that are genetically identical to each other and to the original parent cell. It is primarily involved in growth, development, and repair of tissues, producing body cells (somatic cells).
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Meiosis, on the other hand, produces four daughter cells that are genetically different from each other and from the parent cell. This process is essential for sexual reproduction, as it results in gametes (sperm and eggs) that carry half the number of chromosomes (haploid) compared to the parent cell (diploid).
So the first option is the correct way to characterize the difference between the two processes.