Science Olympiad Heredity Practice Test 2026 - Free Heredity Practice Questions and Study Guide

The primary result of mitosis is the formation of two genetically identical daughter cells. Mitosis is a type of cell division that occurs in somatic (non-reproductive) cells, enabling growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues. During this process, the parent cell's genetic material, which is duplicated in the S phase of the cell cycle, is equally divided between the two new cells. This ensures that both daughter cells receive an exact copy of the parent cell's DNA, maintaining the same chromosome number and genetic information.

Mitosis plays a key role in asexual reproduction and is critical for organisms that use this method to reproduce without the genetic contributions from another organism. This is distinct from meiosis, which produces cells with half the chromosome number and genetic diversity for sexual reproduction. Therefore, the correct answer reflects the fundamental nature of mitosis in producing genetically identical cells, which is crucial for tissue development and maintenance in multicellular organisms.