What is the end result of mitosis?

The end result of mitosis is the formation of two genetically identical daughter cells. Mitosis is a process of cell division that occurs in somatic (body) cells, and its primary purpose is to facilitate growth, repair, or replacement of cells.

During mitosis, a single parent cell divides through a series of well-defined stages (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase) resulting in two nuclei that are genetically identical to the original nucleus. Each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes, ensuring that they are clones of the parent cell. This is critical for maintaining the genetic consistency of organisms during cell division.

In contrast, the other options represent processes or outcomes that do not accurately depict the result of mitosis. For instance, four daughter cells are produced during meiosis, which is a different type of cell division responsible for gamete formation. A single parent cell is not an end result but rather the stage prior to the division that takes place during mitosis. Lastly, cellular apoptosis refers to programmed cell death, which is unrelated to the process of cell division in mitosis.