Which process yields two genetically identical daughter cells?

• A. Meiosis
• B. Budding
• C. Mitosis
• D. Fragmentation

Answer: (C)

Mitosis is the process that creates two genetically identical daughter cells. Before mitosis, the cell duplicates its DNA, so each chromosome has two sister chromatids. During mitosis, these chromatids separate into two new nuclei, and the cell splits its cytoplasm in cytokinesis, giving rise to two daughter cells that have the same genetic information as the original cell. This is why two daughter cells are genetically identical. Meiosis, on the other hand, reduces chromosome number and shuffles genes to create variation, while budding and fragmentation are forms of asexual reproduction that don’t produce two identical somatic daughter cells from a single cell division in the same way.