What term describes somatic cell division that produces two identical daughter cells?

What term describes somatic cell division that produces two identical daughter cells?

• A. Cytokinesis
• B. DNA replication
• C. Mitosis
• D. Binary fission

Answer: (C)

Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic somatic cell divides its nucleus to produce two genetically identical daughter nuclei, usually followed by cytokinesis that splits the cytoplasm and yields two separate cells. This ensures each daughter cell inherits an identical set of chromosomes after DNA has been replicated earlier in the cell cycle. Cytokinesis alone handles the cytoplasmic split, not the nuclear division. DNA replication duplicates the genome but does not divide the cell. Binary fission is how many prokaryotes divide, not the typical mechanism for somatic cells in eukaryotes.

Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic somatic cell divides its nucleus to produce two genetically identical daughter nuclei, usually followed by cytokinesis that splits the cytoplasm and yields two separate cells. This ensures each daughter cell inherits an identical set of chromosomes after DNA has been replicated earlier in the cell cycle. Cytokinesis alone handles the cytoplasmic split, not the nuclear division. DNA replication duplicates the genome but does not divide the cell. Binary fission is how many prokaryotes divide, not the typical mechanism for somatic cells in eukaryotes.