During meiosis, the diploid cell goes through a process of reduction division wherein the number of chromosomes in a cell is split into half. The main result of meiosis is 4 haploid cells, which are genetically different from each other and from the parent (diploid) cell. Each haploid cell contains half the number of chromosomes in a diploid cell.

The process of mitosis generally starts with a diploid cell. When it occurs, it would usually yield two diploid cells that are genetically identical to each other and to the original parent cell.

On the other hand, the process of meiosis also starts with a diploid cell, but yields four haploid cells that are genetically distinct from each other and to the original (diploid) parent cell.

Furthermore, the process of mitosis is usually associated with *asexual* reproduction. On the other hand, the process of meiosis is usually associated with *sexual* reproduction.

A **diploid** cell generally refers to a cell that contains two sets of chromosomes (2N). In contrast, a **haploid** cell generally refers to a cell that contains only one set of chromosomes (N).

To illustrate, a human body cell is usually *diploid*. This means that it contains two sets of all 23 chromosomes in a typical human cell, for a total of 46 chromosomes in a diploid cell.

On the other hand, some cells in the human body have only one set of all 23 chromosomes, for a total of 23 chromosomes in a *haploid* cell such as a germ cell (e.g. sperm and egg).

Crossing-over refers to the process of exchanging alleles between homologous chromosomes wherein the alleles are shuffled and sorted. As a result, it produces a new combination of alleles in the haploid cells.

The number of chromosomes in a sperm cell is 23 and the number of chromosomes in an egg cell is 23. A white blood cell does not undergo meiosis; hence, the number of chromosomes is 46, just like every other human body cells that contain a nucleus.