Which statement describes mitosis?

• A. The division of germ cells to produce haploid gametes
• B. The division of somatic cells to form two identical diploid cells
• C. The reduction of chromosome number by half to form gametes
• D. The replication of DNA prior to cell division

Answer: (C)

Mitosis is the division of somatic (body) cells to form two genetically identical diploid daughter cells. This preserves the chromosome number and produces two cells that are exact copies of the parent, which is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair. Before mitosis, the cell duplicates its DNA, so each chromosome has two sister chromatids. During mitosis, these chromatids separate into two new nuclei, and cytokinesis divides the cytoplasm to complete the two separate cells. The statement about reducing chromosome number by half to form gametes describes meiosis, not mitosis, which is why it doesn’t describe mitosis. A statement about replication of DNA prior to division is true in general, but it doesn’t define mitosis by itself since DNA replication occurs before both mitosis and meiosis.