The process by which cells divide into two identical daughter cells is known as mitosis. Mitosis is a form of cell division that ensures each new cell receives an exact copy of the parent cell's genetic material. This process occurs in several stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis, where the cell's cytoplasm splits. Mitosis is crucial for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction in organisms, maintaining genetic consistency across somatic cells.