During growth, why does a cell undergo mitosis?

• A. To increase in size and to specialize into roots, stems or leaves.
• B. To decrease cell size.
• C. To produce energy.
• D. To form gametes.

Answer: (A)

Growth relies on mitosis to increase the number of cells, which builds a larger organism and sets the stage for cells to become specialized tissues like roots, stems, and leaves. Mitosis distributes genetic material evenly to daughter cells, enabling plenty of cells to form these different structures. The other ideas aren’t functions of mitosis: changing cell size isn’t the main purpose of division, energy production is a metabolic process, and forming gametes occurs through meiosis, not mitosis.