The answer
Mitosis aur meiosis dono cell division ke types hain, par inka purpose aur outcome bilkul alag hai. Mitosis somatic (body) cells mein hota hai, jisse growth aur repair hoti hai. Isme ek parent cell se 2 diploid (2n) daughter cells bante hain, jo genetically parent ke exactly same hote hain. Chromosome number same rehta hai, kyunki ek round of division hota hai. Isme prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase ek baar aate hain, aur crossing over (genetic recombination) nahi hota. Example: skin cell ka wound bharna.
Meiosis sirf reproductive cells (gametes) mein hota hai, jisse sexual reproduction ke liye gametes bante hain. Isme ek parent cell se 4 haploid (n) daughter cells bante hain, jo genetically alag-alag hote hain. Chromosome number aadha ho jata hai, kyunki 2 rounds of division hote hain (meiosis I aur II). Isme crossing over prophase I mein hota hai, jisse genetic diversity aati hai. Iske baad fertilisation mein 2 haploid gametes milke diploid zygote banate hain. Example: sperm aur egg cell formation.
Key differences ko yaad rakhne ke liye mitosis = same, meiosis = half. Ek micro-example: Human cell mein 46 chromosomes (2n=46). Mitosis se 2 cells with 46 chromosomes; meiosis se 4 cells with 23 chromosomes (n=23). Exam mein difference puchne par purpose, chromosome number, rounds, genetic variation zaroor likhna.
Exam tip: Meiosis ko reductional division bhi kehte hain kyunki chromosome number reduce hota hai. Mitosis ko equational division kehte hain kyunki number same rehta hai. Isliye jab bhi gamete formation ya genetic diversity ka question aaye, wahan meiosis likhna, aur growth/repair mein mitosis.
