Which of the following processes is most similar to mitosis in terms of cell division?

• A. Cytokinesis
• B. Binary fission
• C. Apoptosis
• D. Meiosis

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the process of mitosis: Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth.
2. Examine binary fission: Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction and cell division used by all prokaryotes, and some organelles within eukaryotes. It involves the division of a single organism into two parts, each with the potential to grow to the size of the original organism.
3. Compare mitosis and binary fission: Both processes involve the division of a cell into two parts. Mitosis occurs in eukaryotic cells and involves complex steps including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, while binary fission is simpler and occurs in prokaryotic cells.
4. Consider cytokinesis: Cytokinesis is the process that follows mitosis, where the cytoplasm of a single eukaryotic cell is divided to form two daughter cells. It is not similar to mitosis itself but is a part of the overall cell division process.
5. Evaluate apoptosis and meiosis: Apoptosis is programmed cell death, not a division process. Meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four haploid cells, and is used in sexual reproduction, making it different from mitosis.