Final answer:
The statement is false; mitosis is essential for repairing and replacing damaged or worn-out cells. It plays a key role in wound healing and tissue maintenance, and when mitosis is disrupted, it can lead to cancer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that mitosis is not vital in the repair and replacement of any damaged cells is false. Mitosis is a crucial process in eukaryotic cell division that ensures genetic material is evenly distributed between the two new daughter cells.
This process is essential not only for growth but also for repairing and replacing damaged or worn-out cells. For example, when you get a cut on your skin, mitosis is responsible for creating new skin cells to heal the wound. Furthermore, cells that have worn out over time are replaced through mitosis, ensuring the maintenance of healthy tissue.
Mitosis can also be a critical factor in preventing cancer. When a cell's DNA is damaged, the p53 gene normally acts to stop mitosis, allowing time for DNA repair or triggering apoptosis if the damage is irreparable. However, if p53 is mutated and can't perform its function, the damaged cell may continue to divide, potentially leading to cancer. Therefore, an efficient mitotic process, which includes checkpoints and repair mechanisms, is pivotal for the overall integrity of the organism and for preventing diseases like cancer.