Which process occurs in somatic cells?

• A. Binary fission
• B. Meiosis
• C. Budding
• D. Mitosis

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that somatic cells are any cells in the body that are not involved in reproduction. They are diploid, meaning they contain two sets of chromosomes, one from each parent.
2. Recognize that mitosis is the process by which somatic cells divide. It ensures that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes as the parent cell.
3. Differentiate mitosis from meiosis, which is the process of cell division that occurs in germ cells to produce gametes (sperm and eggs) and results in cells with half the number of chromosomes.
4. Identify that binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction commonly found in prokaryotes, such as bacteria, and is not applicable to somatic cells in multicellular organisms.
5. Acknowledge that budding is another form of asexual reproduction seen in some organisms like yeast and certain animals, but it is not a process that occurs in somatic cells.