Mitosis is important in asexual reproduction primarily because of the following reason:
1. Ensures daughter cells have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
In asexual reproduction, offspring are produced from a single parent organism, and mitosis ensures that the resulting daughter cells are genetically identical to the parent cell. This means that the chromosome number is maintained, allowing for consistent genetic information to be passed on to the next generation.
The other options do not apply to mitosis in the context of asexual reproduction:
- 2. Allows for exchange of genetic material between cells is not correct since mitosis does not involve genetic exchange (that would occur during meiosis).
- 3. Increases genetic diversity is also incorrect; asexual reproduction generally leads to clones of the parent organism, which means genetic diversity is not increased.
- 4. Reduces the number of chromosomes by half pertains to meiosis, not mitosis, as meiosis is the process that reduces the chromosome number for sexual reproduction.
So, the correct answer regarding mitosis's role in asexual reproduction is option 1.