When the parent cell divides by the process of mitosis, it results in two identical daughter cells. Each of the daughter cells has the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This typically occurs in somatic or non-reproductive cells such as hair, skin, lung, and muscle cells. 

When the parent cell divides by the process of meiosis, it results in four unique daughter cells. Each of these four daughter cells has half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. The composition of each chromosome is different from that of the parent cells as well as from each other. This typically occurs in reproductive cells.