Mitosis results in diploid cells because it replicates and distributes identical copies of each chromosome to daughter cells, maintaining the original chromosome number.
Here's a breakdown of why mitosis ensures the daughter cells are diploid:
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Initial State: A diploid cell contains two sets of chromosomes (2n), one inherited from each parent.
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DNA Replication (S Phase): Before mitosis begins, the cell duplicates all of its chromosomes. Each chromosome now consists of two identical sister chromatids joined at the centromere. The cell is technically still diploid because, while the amount of DNA has doubled, the number of chromosomes hasn't changed.
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Chromosome Separation: During mitosis, specifically anaphase, the sister chromatids separate. Each chromatid is now considered an individual chromosome.
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Equal Distribution: These newly separated chromosomes are precisely and equally distributed to opposite poles of the cell.
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Cell Division (Cytokinesis): The cell then divides into two daughter cells. Each daughter cell receives a complete set of chromosomes, identical to the original parent cell's chromosomal makeup.
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End Result: Each daughter cell now contains two sets of chromosomes (2n), making them diploid, just like the parent cell.
In essence, mitosis is a process of duplication and division that ensures genetic continuity by maintaining the diploid chromosome number in the resulting daughter cells. It copies each chromosome and segregates those copies into two separate nuclei, followed by cell division, resulting in two diploid daughter cells. This ensures that each new cell receives an exact replica of the parent cell's genetic information.
