Yo, I totally get the confusion! Here’s a way I break it down:
Mitosis is like the “copying process” that happens when you need new cells for things like growth or replacing dead ones. You start with one cell, and you end up with two identical cells. So, it’s super important when you’re repairing tissues or growing. One important thing to note is that mitosis keeps the chromosome number the same—no change there.
Meiosis is a whole different ball game. It’s what happens when your body creates sex cells. You start with one cell, but instead of ending up with two identical cells, you get FOUR cells with half the number of chromosomes. This is important for sexual reproduction, so when the egg meet, you get the full set of chromosomes again.
To keep it simple: Mitosis = 2 identical cells. Meiosis = 4 different, half-numbered cells. Hope this makes it clearer for you! Good luck on your exam! 👍