What is the process called when one cell divides to create two identical cells?

The process of one cell dividing to create two identical cells is called cell division. This biological process is fundamental to growth, development, and repair in living organisms. During cell division, a single parent cell undergoes a series of carefully regulated steps to ensure that the two daughter cells produced are genetically identical to the original cell. This is vital for maintaining the same genetic information across cells in an organism.

Cell growth refers to the increase in size of a cell, while cell differentiation is the process by which a cell develops into a more specialized cell type, tailored for a specific function. Cell replication, while it might sound similar to cell division, typically refers to the copying of genetic material or DNA, rather than the complete division of the cell into two cells. Thus, cell division accurately describes the overall process of producing two identical cells from one.