The purpose of mitosis is to:
Select one:
a. produce identical copies of cells
b. produce gametes (sperm and eggs)
c. produce daughter cells with half the chromosome complement of the parent cells
a. produce identical copies of cells
The purpose of mitosis is to:
a. produce identical copies of cells
The purpose of mitosis is to produce identical copies of cells.
To arrive at this answer, let's break down the options:
a. produce identical copies of cells - This statement accurately describes the purpose of mitosis. Mitosis is a cell division process in which one cell divides into two identical daughter cells, each containing an identical set of chromosomes. This process is responsible for growth, repair, and replacement of cells in multicellular organisms.
b. produce gametes (sperm and eggs) - This statement is incorrect. The production of gametes, such as sperm and eggs, occurs through a different process called meiosis. Meiosis involves two rounds of cell division, resulting in cells with half the chromosome complement.
c. produce daughter cells with half the chromosome complement of the parent cells - This statement is also incorrect. The process described here is meiosis, not mitosis. Meiosis is specifically responsible for producing haploid cells with half the chromosome number, which are required for sexual reproduction.
Therefore, the correct answer is a. produce identical copies of cells.