What is the process of cell reproduction called?

The process of cell reproduction is commonly referred to as mitosis, which is specifically the type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Mitosis is crucial for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, the replicated chromosomes are precisely separated, ensuring that each new cell inherits the correct genetic information.

While cell division generically encompasses both mitosis and meiosis, the term "mitosis" specifically highlights the reproduction of somatic (body) cells, making it the most accurate choice in the context of typical cell reproduction.

Meiosis refers to a different process that reduces the chromosome number by half and is important for producing gametes (sperm and eggs). Apoptosis, on the other hand, is a programmed cell death process, not a form of reproduction, while the term "cell division" could imply both mitosis and other types of division without detailing the specific mechanism at play in the context of reproduction. Therefore, mitosis is the precise term describing the reproduction process of somatic cells.