Answer: C. genetically the same as the parent cell.
Explanation:
Epithelial cells are cells that line the surface of organs and tissues in the body and are involved in functions such as protection, absorption, and secretion. When an epithelial cell replicates, it divides into two daughter cells, each of which contains a copy of the parent cell's genetic material.
Therefore, when an epithelial cell replicates 16 times, the resulting daughter cells are genetically the same as the parent cell. They contain the same genetic information as the parent cell and are not further differentiated into specialized cells. The daughter cells may be phenotypically the same as the parent cell, meaning that they have the same physical characteristics, but they are not replicated indefinitely. Eventually, the daughter cells may enter a state of quiescence, in which they are no longer actively dividing.