Which statement describes mitosis?

Which statement describes mitosis?

• A. The nucleus divides into two nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes
• B. It produces four gamete-like cells
• C. It reduces chromosome number by half
• D. It occurs only in reproductive cells

Answer: (D)

Mitosis is a process of nuclear division that preserves the chromosome number, producing two nuclei that each contain the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This ensures that genetic material is distributed evenly to two daughter cells. After the nucleus finishes dividing, cytokinesis typically splits the cytoplasm, yielding two separate daughter cells. Mitosis mainly occurs in somatic (body) cells for growth, development, and tissue repair, not just in reproductive cells. The statements about producing four gamete-like cells, reducing chromosome number by half, and occurring only in reproductive cells describe meiosis, not mitosis. Meiosis creates haploid gametes and involves two rounds of division, leading to four distinct cells with half the original chromosome count.

Mitosis is a process of nuclear division that preserves the chromosome number, producing two nuclei that each contain the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This ensures that genetic material is distributed evenly to two daughter cells. After the nucleus finishes dividing, cytokinesis typically splits the cytoplasm, yielding two separate daughter cells. Mitosis mainly occurs in somatic (body) cells for growth, development, and tissue repair, not just in reproductive cells.

The statements about producing four gamete-like cells, reducing chromosome number by half, and occurring only in reproductive cells describe meiosis, not mitosis. Meiosis creates haploid gametes and involves two rounds of division, leading to four distinct cells with half the original chromosome count.