Which statement about mitosis and meiosis is accurate?

Which statement about mitosis and meiosis is accurate?

• A. Mitosis involves two divisions and produces four diploid cells.
• B. Mitosis involves two divisions and produces two genetically identical diploid daughter cells.
• C. Meiosis produces two genetically identical haploid cells.
• D. Mitosis involves one division and produces two genetically identical diploid daughter cells.

Answer: (D)

In mitosis a cell divides once to form two daughter cells, and each daughter is diploid with the same genetic information as the parent (barring rare mutations). This is why the statement that mitosis involves one division and produces two genetically identical diploid daughter cells is accurate. Meiosis, by contrast, goes through two divisions and ends with four haploid cells that are not genetically identical because of crossing over and independent assortment. The other options mix up the number of divisions or the chromosome content of the daughter cells, whereas this description correctly matches what mitosis does.

In mitosis a cell divides once to form two daughter cells, and each daughter is diploid with the same genetic information as the parent (barring rare mutations). This is why the statement that mitosis involves one division and produces two genetically identical diploid daughter cells is accurate. Meiosis, by contrast, goes through two divisions and ends with four haploid cells that are not genetically identical because of crossing over and independent assortment. The other options mix up the number of divisions or the chromosome content of the daughter cells, whereas this description correctly matches what mitosis does.