Mitosis is a condition of?

Appeared in: BHU NO - 2015

Explanation

Mitosis is a type of somatic cell division where a parent cell divides into two identical daughter cells.
A key characteristic of mitosis is that the chromosome number remains constant; there is no reduction.
If a human parent cell has 46 chromosomes (diploid), each daughter cell produced by mitosis will also have 46 chromosomes.
This process is fundamental for growth, replacing old or damaged cells, and tissue repair.

Option A: Cell breakdown is a process of decomposition or disintegration, which is the opposite of mitosis, a process of cell creation and multiplication.
Option C: Cell death is a natural or pathological process. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, while death due to injury is necrosis. Mitosis is the process of cell creation, not death.
Option D: This describes meiosis, not mitosis. Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, creating four haploid cells (gametes).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Cell Division (Mitosis) as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Understanding mitosis is crucial for nurses to comprehend tissue healing after injury or surgery, as it's the process by which new cells are made to repair the damage.
It is also fundamental to understanding cancer. Cancer is essentially uncontrolled mitosis, where cells divide without stopping, forming tumors.
Many chemotherapy drugs are designed to interfere with mitosis, specifically targeting rapidly dividing cancer cells to stop their proliferation.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core concept in the question, which is 'Mitosis'.
Recall the definition of mitosis: it is a process of cell division for growth and repair.
Remember the key feature of mitosis: the chromosome number of the daughter cells is the same as the parent cell (no reduction).
Evaluate each option based on this definition.
Option A ('Cell breakdown') and C ('Cell death') are opposites of cell division.
Option D ('Cell division with half chromosomes') describes meiosis.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Physiology Ganong 27e Vol 2 Part 2 p. 128-130

E6 Anatomy Applied Ashalatha 4e p. 64-66

E6 Parks TextBook of Preventive & Social Medicine part 2 — Subpart B (pp 233-449 of 464) p. 137-139

Practise the full BHU NO - 2015

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.