After cytokinesis, the two daughter cells are genetically:

• A. Different from each other
• B. Identical to the parent cell and to each other
• C. Identical only if mutations occur
• D. Identical only to each other but not to the parent cell

Answer: (B)

In mitosis, the genome is replicated once, and the identical sister chromatids are separated into two new nuclei. Cytokinesis then divides the cytoplasm, producing two cells that each contain a complete copy of the genome. Because the DNA sequence is preserved and no recombination happens during this process, the two daughter cells end up genetically identical to the parent cell and to each other, assuming no mutations occur. Mutations could introduce differences, but they are exceptions to the usual outcome. This is different from meiosis, where recombination and independent assortment create genetic diversity, so the resulting cells are not all identical to the parent.