Final answer:
Mitosis is the process that helps skin repair itself after it is cut by duplicating chromosomes and creating identical daughter cells to replace damaged ones. It is part of the cell cycle's mitotic phase which follows interphase, where the cell prepares for division. So the correct option is C.
Step-by-step explanation:
What helps skin repair itself after it is cut? The correct answer is C. Mitosis.
Mitosis is the process by which a cell duplicates its chromosomes to generate two identical nuclei followed by cytokinesis, where the cell splits to form two identical daughter cells. In the context of skin repair, mitosis allows for the generation of new skin cells to replace those that have been damaged or destroyed by a cut. This process is part of the larger cell cycle, which consists of the interphase and the mitotic phase. During interphase, the cell grows, performs its regular functions, and prepares for cell division. Interphase is subdivided into three phases: G1 (cell growth and protein synthesis), S (DNA replication), and G2 (further growth and protein synthesis). These stages are critical as they ensure the cell has all the necessary components to successfully divide and repair tissues, including skin.
It is important to note that glycolysis is a metabolic pathway that produces energy through the breakdown of glucose and is not directly involved in cell division. Meiosis, on the other hand, is a form of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes by half to create gametes for sexual reproduction and is not involved in skin repair. Interphase is a stage of the cell cycle but not a process that repairs skin by itself; it's the stage before mitosis.