What process describes the division of a cell into two identical cells?

The process that describes the division of a cell into two identical cells is mitosis. Mitosis is a type of cell division that occurs in somatic (non-reproductive) cells, where one parent cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells, each containing the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This process is crucial for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction in multicellular organisms.

During mitosis, the cell goes through several specific phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, each playing a critical role in the accurate segregation of replicated chromosomes. Following these phases, cytokinesis usually takes place, which is the final step that physically separates the two newly formed cells by dividing the cytoplasm. However, mitosis itself specifically refers to the replication and division of the nuclear material.

Other processes mentioned serve different purposes. Meiosis is the type of cell division that leads to the formation of gametes (sperm and egg cells), resulting in cells that have half the number of chromosomes compared to the original cell. Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction commonly found in prokaryotes, like bacteria, where a single cell divides into two, but it is structurally different from