Which process describes the division where a mother cell creates two identical daughter cells?

The process where a mother cell creates two identical daughter cells is known as mitosis. During mitosis, the cell undergoes a series of well-defined phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. In these stages, the cell’s chromosomes are duplicated and properly distributed to ensure that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes.

This process is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms. Mitosis allows for genetic continuity, ensuring that the genetic material is preserved across generations of cells. In contrast, meiosis involves two rounds of cell division that result in gametes with half the number of chromosomes and is not aimed at creating identical cells. Binary fission is a method used by prokaryotic cells (like bacteria) where the cell splits into two parts, but it does not involve the complex steps that occur in mitosis. Cell differentiation refers to the process by which unspecialized cells develop into specialized cells and does not relate to the method of cell division. Thus, mitosis is the correct answer as it specifically describes the replication of a mother cell into two genetically identical daughter cells.