During which process do cells divide to form two identical cells?

The process where cells divide to form two identical cells is known as mitosis. In mitosis, a single cell replicates its DNA and divides into two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the original cell. This process is fundamental to growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.

During mitosis, several specific stages occur, including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis, which completes the cell division. Each of the daughter cells receives an exact copy of the parent cell's genetic material, ensuring consistency in the genetic information passed along during cellular division. This is vital for maintaining the proper functioning and health of tissues.

Other processes mentioned have different roles and characteristics. Meiosis, for instance, is a type of cell division that occurs in the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs) and leads to genetic diversity through the reduction of chromosome number and the introduction of variation. Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction commonly seen in prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria, where a cell divides into two halves. Cell differentiation, on the other hand, is the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell type, not directly related to the division