Final answer:
The process where a cell divides into many genetically identical cells all at once is called multiple fission, while mitosis refers to the division producing two identical daughter cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process of a parent cell dividing into a large number of genetically identical cells all at once is known as multiple fission. While the cell division in somatic cells, where a parent cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells, is called mitosis, the process of multiple fission can produce more than two daughter cells. It is a form of asexual reproduction observed among protists and other single-celled organisms. However, binary fission is another type of cell division typical in prokaryotic organisms like bacteria, where the parent cell splits into two daughter cells. Despite the difference in the number of cells produced, both binary fission and multiple fission result in offspring that are genetically identical to the parent.