Exact copy of the parent cell is produced by mitosis (genetically identical).
1. Genetic stability – Daughter cells are genetically identical to parent cells.
2. Growth – As multicellular organisms grow, the number of cells making up their tissue increases. The new cells must be identical to the existing ones.
3. Repair of tissues – Damaged cells must be replaced by identical new cells by mitosis.
4. Asexual reproduction – Asexual reproduction results in offspring that are identical to the parent.
Example Yeast and Amoeba.
5. In flowering plants, structure such as bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes and runners are produced by mitotic division. When they separate from the parent, they form a new individual. The production of large numbers of offsprings in a short period of time, is possible only by mitosis. In genetic engineering and biotechnology, tissues are grown by mitosis (i.e. in tissue culture).
6. Regeneration – Arms of star fish
