...but scientific language can make it seem so.
These two processes are only distantly related, but the names make them seem more closely so.
Mitosis occurs in SOMATIC cells, or body cells. The PURPOSE is to produce two IDENTICAL daughter cells. We see it in growth and healing processes, and when it goes "haywire" it is the template upon which malignancy occurs.
Meiosis occurs in GERMINAL cells, or sex cells. It's PURPOSE is to poduce GAMETES, or egg and sperm, with an array of parental genes, each in one version (allele) which can combine with the complementary gamete to produce a zygote. In addition, during the two stages of meiosis the genes "crossover" such that each gamete is unique. This is the basis for the egnetic diversity that is the basis of successful natural selection.
When one considers the POINT of each process, it's not that difficult, really....
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