What type of cell replication occurs in the formation of somatic cells?

Somatic cells undergo mitosis during their replication. Mitosis is the process by which a single cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.

In humans and many other organisms, somatic cells are all body cells excluding gametes (reproductive cells). Mitosis ensures that when somatic cells replicate, they maintain the same genetic information, which is crucial for the normal functioning of tissues and organs.

This process involves several stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, culminating in cytokinesis, which is the division of the cytoplasm. The ability of somatic cells to replicate through mitosis allows for the maintenance of healthy cells and the replacement of dead or damaged cells.