What is the term for the process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells?

The process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells is called mitosis. This is a fundamental mechanism of cellular reproduction in eukaryotic cells, where the cell's nucleus divides, and the duplicated genetic material is distributed evenly into the two new daughter cells. Mitosis is critical for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in organisms.

During mitosis, several distinct phases occur: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Each phase contributes to the proper alignment and separation of chromosomes, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the parent cell’s genetic material. The conclusion of mitosis is followed by cytokinesis, which is the division of the cytoplasm, leading to the complete formation of two separate cells.

Other options, while related to cell division, do not result in the creation of two identical daughter cells in the context described. Meiosis, for instance, is a different type of cell division that leads to the production of gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the chromosome number, promoting genetic diversity. Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction primarily occurring in prokaryotes like bacteria, resulting in two identical cells but through a simpler mechanism than mit