Final answer:
The purpose of mitosis is to produce body cells (somatic cells) that are genetically identical to the parent cell for growth, repair, and maintenance of the organism.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of mitosis is to produce body cells, also known as somatic cells. These somatic cells are essential for growth, repair, and general maintenance of multicellular organisms. Unlike meiosis, which generates sex cells or gametes for sexual reproduction, mitosis results in the creation of two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the original parent cell. Each daughter cell inherits the same 46 chromosomes present in the parent cell, ensuring that genetic information is consistently passed on during cell division. It is critical for the maintenance of the chromosome number and the transfer of genetic information in somatic cells.