What is the purpose of mitosis?

Mitosis plays a crucial role in the life cycle of eukaryotic cells by facilitating cell division that results in two genetically identical daughter cells. This process is vital for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, the chromosomes are meticulously replicated and evenly distributed to ensure that each new cell receives the same genetic material as the original cell. This preservation of genetic identity is essential for maintaining the stability of an organism’s genetic code throughout cell generations. By producing daughter cells that are clones of the original, mitosis ensures that all cells within a tissue or organism function in a coordinated way, which is fundamental to the organism's overall health and growth.

In contrast to the other choices, the replication of DNA prior to cell division primarily occurs during the S phase of interphase, not during mitosis itself. The production of gametes for reproduction is a function of meiosis, which leads to genetic diversity and the formation of haploid cells. While enhancing genetic diversity is a key feature of sexual reproduction mechanisms, it is not a characteristic of mitosis, which aims to produce identical copies. Thus, the focus of mitosis is purely on the division of existing cells into identical descendants, making the correct choice about its