Question

Over its lifespan, a horse carries out many life processes. It consumes food for energy, grows larger in size, repairs muscle tissues that sustain damage during exercise, and produces gametes for reproduction. Which of the following best describes how mitosis is important for the processes described above?

1) Mitosis is the main process involved in the horse's growth and tissue repair.
2) Mitosis is the main process involved when the horse breaks down food for energy.
3) Mitosis is the main process involved in the horse's production of gametes for reproduction.

Answer 1

Mitosis is important for a horse's growth and tissue repair as it produces identical cells necessary for these processes. It is not involved in breaking down food for energy or in the production of gametes for reproduction, which is accomplished through meiosis.

Step-by-step explanation:

The best description of how mitosis is important for the processes a horse carries out during its lifespan is that mitosis is the main process involved in the horse's growth and tissue repair. This is because mitosis produces identical cells, which are necessary for the development and regeneration of tissues within the horse's body.

When the horse consumes food, it breaks down the food for energy in a series of chemical reactions, but this process does not involve mitosis. The production of gametes for reproduction is carried out through meiosis, not mitosis. Meiosis results in cells that have half the number of chromosomes, which is key for sexual reproduction, ensuring the resulting offspring has the correct number of chromosomes.