What is a key feature of mitosis?

A key feature of mitosis is that it results in two daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell. This process is essential for growth, repair, and asexual reproduction in organisms. During mitosis, the cell undergoes a series of well-coordinated phases—prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—that ensure the chromosomes are accurately replicated and distributed to the daughter cells. The end result is two genetically identical diploid cells that retain the same number of chromosomes as the original parent cell.

In contrast, the other options highlight different processes or outcomes that do not align with mitosis. The production of four daughter cells, for example, is characteristic of meiosis, which is involved in sexual reproduction and results in haploid cells with half the genetic material. Similarly, the concept of genetic recombination is associated with meiosis as well, where genetic material is shuffled, leading to genetic diversity. Instead, mitosis maintains the genetic consistency of the cells, making option C the correct reflection of its primary function.