Which process primarily occurs during the mitotic phase of the cell cycle?

During the mitotic phase of the cell cycle, the primary process occurring is cell division. This phase is characterized by the division of a single cell into two genetically identical daughter cells. The mitotic phase is further divided into several stages, including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, each contributing to the precise separation of the duplicated chromosomes and ensuring that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes.

While other processes mentioned in the options, such as DNA replication, happen earlier in the cell cycle (specifically during the S phase), they are not part of the mitotic phase itself. Similarly, cytokinesis, which is the final step in cell division that physically separates the cytoplasm into two distinct cells, is a part of the overall process but is considered a distinct phase that follows mitosis. Therefore, the focus of the question specifically on the mitotic phase points to cell division as the fundamental process occurring during this critical time in the cell cycle.