During mitosis in a typical eukaryotic cell cycle, how many times does a single parent cell divide to produce daughter cells?

• A. Once (one division produces two genetically identical daughter cells)
• B. It does not divide during mitosis; division occurs only during interphase
• C. Three times (three divisions produce eight daughter cells)
• D. Twice (two divisions produce four genetically distinct daughter cells)

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the phases of the eukaryotic cell cycle: interphase (where the cell grows and DNA replicates) and mitosis (where the cell divides).
2. Recognize that mitosis is the process of nuclear division, followed by cytokinesis, which divides the cytoplasm, resulting in two daughter cells.
3. Recall that during mitosis, a single parent cell divides exactly once to produce two genetically identical daughter cells.
4. Note that multiple divisions (such as twice or three times) would correspond to multiple rounds of mitosis, which is not the case in a single mitotic event.
5. Conclude that the correct answer is that the parent cell divides once during mitosis to produce two genetically identical daughter cells.