Mitosis

Mitosis is the stage of the cell cycle at which chromosomal division occurs. This division precedes cytokinesis, or cell division, which leads to two daughter cells with identical nuclear DNA content. Between mitotic events, chromosomal DNA is replicated during the synthesis stage of the cell cycle. The process of mitosis is required whenever a somatic cell divides. In contrast to meiosis, which occurs in germ cells prior to the reproductive process, mitosis does not involve exchange of DNA between homologous chromosomes or a reduction in DNA content.