Which of the following is the type of cell division by which somatic cells divide?

The type of cell division by which somatic cells divide is mitosis. Mitosis is a process that results in two genetically identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This type of division is crucial for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.

During mitosis, a single cell goes through a series of stages—prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—that facilitate the accurate segregation of chromosomes. The end result is that each of the two new cells has the same genetic material as the parent cell, thus maintaining the chromosome count and genetic integrity. This is essential for the normal functioning of somatic cells, which make up the majority of the body's tissues and organs.

In contrast, meiosis is a type of cell division specific to germ cells, leading to gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the chromosome number, while binary fission is a simpler method of reproduction used by prokaryotic organisms like bacteria. Transcription, on the other hand, is a process of synthesizing RNA from a DNA template and is not a form of cell division at all. Therefore, the role of mitosis in somatic cell division is foundational for understanding