Which statement is true about mitosis and meiosis?

• A. Mitosis yields two identical daughter cells; Meiosis yields four genetically different cells.
• B. Both produce identical sets of chromosomes.
• C. Meiosis occurs in somatic cells; Mitosis occurs in gametes.
• D. Mitosis reduces chromosome number; Meiosis maintains chromosome number.

Answer: (B)

The key idea is how the two divisions differ in what they produce. Mitosis copies the cell’s chromosomes once to give two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent and to each other, preserving the chromosome number. Meiosis, on the other hand, includes two rounds of division and ends with four daughter cells that are haploid and genetically diverse due to crossing over and independent assortment. Because meiosis reduces chromosome number and mixes genes, the products are not identical copies. That’s why the true statement is that mitosis yields two identical daughter cells while meiosis yields four genetically different cells. The other points are incorrect because meiosis happens in germ cells to produce gametes (not in somatic cells), and mitosis maintains rather than reduces chromosome number.