Describe mitosis and its purpose.

• A. A nuclear division producing two genetically identical diploid daughter cells for growth and tissue repair.
• B. Production of gametes with half chromosome number.
• C. Reduction of cytoplasm with division.
• D. A process that creates genetic diversity through crossing over.

Answer: (A)

Mitosis is a nuclear division that creates two genetically identical diploid daughter cells, enabling growth and tissue repair. Before mitosis, the cell’s chromosomes duplicate, and during the process they are evenly separated into two new nuclei so each daughter cell ends up with the same chromosome complement as the original cell. After the nuclear division, cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm to finish forming two separate, complete cells. This mechanism is essential for growing organisms, repairing injured tissue, and maintaining the same chromosome number from generation to generation. The idea of producing gametes with half the chromosome number describes meiosis, which also introduces genetic variation through crossing over—an aspect not characteristic of mitosis.