Mitosis

The commoner of the two methods first. Mitosis does one thing: it increases the number of cells while leaving the chromosome number entirely unchanged.

Figure to be added

Figure 6.18 — mitosis: one 2n mother cell giving rise to two 2n daughter cells.

Mitosis

Increasing the number of cells while keeping constant the number of chromosomes present in the cell nucleus is called mitosis.

The outcome

In mitosis each daughter cell receives a chromosome number equal to that of the mother cell, and two identical cells result.

The importance of mitosis

For the growth of the bodies of multicellular organisms
As a method of asexual reproduction
For the healing of wounds and the replacement of dead cells with new ones

All three uses come from one fact

Because the daughter cells are identical to the mother cell, they are perfect replacements. That single property is what makes mitosis the division used for growth, for healing and for asexual reproduction.