What process describes the asexual reproduction of cells dividing into two identical cells?

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Mitosis is the process that describes asexual reproduction where a single cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells. This process is crucial for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, the cell undergoes several phases—prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—ensuring that the genetic material is accurately replicated and evenly distributed to the daughter cells. The outcome is two genetically identical cells, which is fundamental for the maintenance of the organism's genetic consistency.

In contrast, meiosis is a different type of cell division that results in gametes—sperm and eggs—involving two rounds of division and producing four genetically varied cells. Binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction typically seen in prokaryotes like bacteria, where the organism splits into two parts, but is not the term used specifically for eukaryotic cell division. Cell differentiation involves the process through which cells become specialized in structure and function, rather than the division of cells into identical copies. Thus, mitosis is the process that best fits the description provided in the question.

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