What occurs during mitosis?

During mitosis, the primary outcome is the division of a single parent cell into two genetically identical daughter cells. This process involves several stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, culminating in cytokinesis which physically separates the two new cells. Each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes as the original cell, ensuring that genetic information is faithfully preserved.

The option describing the production of four genetically diverse gametes refers to meiosis, not mitosis, as this process is involved in sexual reproduction and results in genetic variation. The choices mentioning cells growing and replicating their DNA or diploid cells transforming into haploid cells also pertain to processes that are not characteristic of mitosis. Specifically, DNA replication happens prior to mitosis during the S phase of the cell cycle, while haploid cells are produced during meiosis, which reduces the chromosome number.