What type of cell division produces two identical daughter cells?

Mitosis is the process of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This process is crucial for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, the cell goes through a series of well-defined stages—prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—ultimately leading to the duplication of genetic material and the equal distribution of this material into the two daughter cells. Each daughter cell is genetically identical to the parent cell, ensuring continuity of genetic information.

Binary fission, while it also produces two cells, primarily refers to the method of asexual reproduction in prokaryotic organisms like bacteria, where the cell splits into two after duplicating its single chromosome. While the daughter cells may be similar, the term "identical" in the context of eukaryotic cell division typically refers to mitosis.

Meiosis, in contrast, is a specialized form of cell division that leads to the formation of gametes (sperms and eggs), resulting in four non-identical daughter cells with half the chromosome number of the original cell. This process introduces genetic variation, which is essential for sexual reproduction.

Fertil