Humber Admissions Practice Test

What is the primary outcome of mitosis?

1. Production of gametes

2. Division of the cytoplasm

3. Cell division resulting in nuclei with identical chromosomes

4. Replication of DNA

The correct answer is: Cell division resulting in nuclei with identical chromosomes

The primary outcome of mitosis is the division of a parent cell into two daughter cells, each containing identical sets of chromosomes. This process is crucial for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, the duplicated chromosomes are precisely separated and allocated to each of the two forming nuclei, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the genetic material. Mitosis itself does not produce gametes, which are formed through a different process called meiosis. While the division of the cytoplasm, known as cytokinesis, is an important part of the overall cell division process, it occurs after mitosis is complete. Replication of DNA happens prior to mitosis during the S phase of the cell cycle, ensuring that the genetic material is doubled in preparation for cell division. Thus, the hallmark of mitosis is that it results in daughter cells with identical nuclei, confirming the accuracy of the chosen answer.