Final answer:
DNA replication is the necessary process for both mitosis and meiosis to ensure each new cell has a complete set of genetic information. Although recombination and crossing over occur during meiosis to increase genetic diversity, they are not part of mitosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The process necessary for both mitosis and meiosis to occur is A. DNA replication. During DNA replication, the DNA molecule is duplicated to produce two identical copies of genetic material. This is essential because it ensures that each new cell, whether formed through the process of mitosis (cell division for growth and repair) or meiosis (cell division to produce gametes), has the necessary complete set of genetic information.
Recombination and crossing over refer to the exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes during meiosis, which increases genetic diversity in the resulting gametes, but this process does not occur in mitosis. Translocation refers to the movement of a segment of one chromosome to another non-homologous chromosome, which can happen during both mitosis and meiosis but isn't necessary for the basic process of cell division.
Therefore, while recombination, crossing over, and translocation can influence the genetic composition and variation of the resulting cells, the fundamental process required for the mechanics of mitosis and meiosis to take place is DNA replication.