AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Mitosis produces two diploid (2n) somatic cells that are genetically identical to each other and the original parent cell, whereas meiosis produces four haploid (n) gametes that are genetically unique from each other and the original parent (germ) cell.

Detailed explanation-2: -Therefore, the parent cell in mitosis starts off as diploid. Since mitotic cell division results in the formation of new cells which are clone to the parental cell, the resulting daughter cells at the end of mitosis are diploid.

Detailed explanation-3: -In meiosis, a cell containing the diploid number of chromosomes is converted into four cells, each having the haploid number of chromosomes. In human cells undergoing meiosis, for instance, a cell containing 46 chromosomes yields four cells, each with 23 chromosomes.

Detailed explanation-4: -Meiosis is the process by which a haploid cell is formed from a diploid cell. The difference between haploid cells and diploid cells is that haploid cells contain one complete set of chromosomes, whereas diploid cells contain two complete sets of chromosomes. Meiosis involves the division of a diploid (2n) parent cell.