Adding to what the user above me responded with, mitosis replicates identical specialized diploid body cells that split in half expressed by the term 2n. Note that these are body cells- meiosis produces four haploid daughter sex cells that are different from the parent. Sex cells have half the chromosomes body cells have represented by the expression 1n. (23 instead of 46). This is so the egg or sperm can fuse with its opposite that has 23 as well adding to 46.
