Hey there!
So, the easiest way I think about it is to remember that mitosis is all about making identical cells, while meiosis is all about making cells that are different. Mitosis happens when you need to make body cells (like skin or muscle cells), and the result is two identical daughter cells. It’s like copying a file on your computer—exactly the same.
Meiosis, on the other hand, happens when your body needs to make gametes—like egg cells. These cells have half the number of chromosomes, so when they combine during fertilization, you get a full set of chromosomes again. It’s like mixing two different puzzle pieces to get a new picture.
To help remember, think of “M” for “mitosis” = “making” exact copies, and “M” for “meiosis” = “mixing” genetic material. Hope that helps clear it up a bit! 😊