Which of the following statements about mitosis is correct?

• A. The daughter cells of mitosis have half as many chromosomes as the parent cell.
• B. The daughter cells of mitosis have no chromosomes.
• C. The daughter cells of mitosis have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
• D. The daughter cells of mitosis have twice as many chromosomes as the parent cell.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Begin by understanding the process of mitosis. Mitosis is a type of cell division that results in two daughter cells, each genetically identical to the parent cell. It is essential for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in multicellular organisms.
2. Step 2: Recall the key feature of mitosis: the chromosome number remains constant. This means that the daughter cells produced by mitosis have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. For example, if the parent cell has 46 chromosomes, each daughter cell will also have 46 chromosomes.
3. Step 3: Analyze the incorrect options provided in the problem. The statement 'The daughter cells of mitosis have half as many chromosomes as the parent cell' describes meiosis, not mitosis. The statement 'The daughter cells of mitosis have no chromosomes' is biologically incorrect, as chromosomes are essential for genetic information. The statement 'The daughter cells of mitosis have twice as many chromosomes as the parent cell' is also incorrect, as mitosis does not double the chromosome number.
4. Step 4: Focus on the correct statement: 'The daughter cells of mitosis have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.' This aligns with the fundamental principle of mitosis, where the chromosome number is preserved during cell division.
5. Step 5: To reinforce understanding, visualize the stages of mitosis (prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase) and how the chromosomes are duplicated and evenly distributed to ensure that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes.