Difference in mitosis and meiosis? Please, someone who knows help

So mitosis begins with 2 homologous sets (XX XX XX XX) of chromosomes, and copies into two daughter cells are are exactly the same (XX XX XX XX) Also, occurs in somatic, body cells.

And meiosis also begins with a diploid cell (XX XX XX XX), divides into Identical daughter cells, cross over and recombines, THEN makes the haploid gametes (XX) (XX) (XX) (XX)? Is that the right place for the cross over/ recombination. Am I missing anything? I don't have to know the phases.

1) Your parentheses appear to represent cells containing chromosomes. The correct chromosome-number tracking would be as follows (I am including replication of DNA, the S phase of interphase, without showing it):

Mitosis
(XX XX XX XX) -> (XX XX XX XX) + (XX XX XX XX)

Meiosis
(XX XX XX XX) -> (X X X X) + (X X X X ) + (X X X X) + (X X X X)


Mitosis starts with a single diploid parent cell and through ONE round of division produces TWO DIPLOID daughter cells that are genetically IDENTICAL to each other and to the parent cell.

Meiosis starts with a single diploid parent cell and through TWO rounds of division produces FOUR HAPLOID daugther cells that are genetically DIFFERENT from each other and from the parent cell.




2) Crossing over (genetic recombination) does occur in meiosis. But it occurs in prophase I, before either division of the cell has occurred.


3) Here are several free, online animations that should help.

http://www.mcgrawhill.ca/school/applets/…
Meiosis

http://www.sinauer.com/cooper5e/animatio…
Meiosis

http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/con…
Meiosis

http://www.sinauer.com/cooper5e/animatio…
Prophase I of meiosis

Meiosis occurs during sexual reproduction. mitosis occurs every where else.