What's the difference between those two? Aren't Inhumans supposed to be an evolution of the human race "forced" by the Kree? Which is almost the same as Mutants, the natural evolution of the human race...
What exactly am I missing?
Answer
They are, indeed, very similar. The main difference is very technical, based on the "origin" of their non-human genetics, and how those changes are activated.
The X-Factor
Mutants are humans that possess a genetic variation known as the X-Gene or X-Factor, which (at least in the main continuity) was introduced into the human population by the Celestials. Biologically, they are classified as the sub-species Homo sapiens superior, as opposed to normal humans, Homo sapiens sapiens.
Mutant powers activate naturally, either at birth, or more often, at puberty. This is because the X-Gene appears on the 23rd chromosome, the sex chromosome, which mostly affects the production of hormones related to sexuality and puberty.
Terrigenesis
The Inhumans are humans that descend from a very primitive group of Homo sapiens sapiens that was genetically manipulated by the Kree to encode the potential for enhanced mutations into their genetic code. Biologically, they are classified as Homo sapiens inhumanus.
Inhuman powers would normally remain dormant for their entire lives. They must be exposed to the Terrigen Mists, a process called Terrigenesis, in order for those powers to activate. (In the MCU, for example, there are clear changes in DNA between pre- and post- Terrigenesis Inhumans.)
Related?
Despite their differences, X-Gene mutants and Terrigenesis mutants are extremely similar. The process by which their powers manifest once triggered is largely the same: the mutation produces new proteins, which in turn trigger changes to other bodily systems, which result in powers.
In particular, during the Son of M storyline, most mutants were de-powered: their X-Gene activity was suppressed and their mutant powers went away. However, exposing a former mutant to Terrigenesis restored their powers, which indicates an extremely close link, genetically, between the two subspecies.
Cross-Breeding
Since all three (human, Inhuman, and mutant) are still the same species, they can freely breed with each other and produce viable, fertile offspring.
As far as their genetic mutation goes, the X-Gene appears to work like any other human gene, while the Inhuman genetic changes appear to be highly dominant, based on the known pairings:
- An X-Mutant and Human produce either X-mutants or humans, based on inheritance of the X-Gene. See, for example, Wolverine's 6 children, 2 of which were mutants.
- An X-Human and Inhuman appears to produced an Inhuman; The only example I know of is Quicksilver and Crystal's daughter, Luna, who appeared human until exposed to Terrigen Mists, so it's not clear if such a pairing could produce an X-Mutant or not.
- An Inhuman and Human also appears to produce an Inhuman; many of the Inhumans have human parents. (This idea appears in the MCU as well: Quake (Daisy Johnson) has been rewritten as an Inhuman, who's power comes from her mother; her father is still Calvin Zabo, a normal human)
The last bullet is particularly important in the Inhumans story line, because there are a whole lot of human/Inhuman hybrids; there are entire groups (e.g. the "Lost Tribes") of Inhumans that intermingled with human populations over the centuries, and their offspring are capable of being activated by Terrigenesis. These are commonly called the "new Inhumans", for example see this list: http://marvel.wikia.com/List_of_New_Inhumans
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