What is the term for the process of division or duplication of a typical cell?

The process of division or duplication of a typical cell is referred to as mitosis. During mitosis, a single cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells, ensuring that each daughter cell receives an exact copy of the parent cell's DNA. This process is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.

Mitosis involves several stages, including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, culminating in cytokinesis, which physically separates the two new cells. This contrasts with meiosis, which is a specialized type of cell division that results in gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the genetic material, and is crucial for sexual reproduction. Replication refers specifically to the process of copying DNA, while transformation usually denotes a change in a cell's state or identity, often through external influences. Thus, mitosis is the term that accurately describes the division and duplication of a typical somatic (body) cell.