What is the type of cell division by which somatic cells divide?

Somatic cells divide through a process called mitosis. This type of cell division is essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of tissues in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, a single somatic cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells, each containing the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. This ensures that the genetic information is consistently passed along, maintaining the integrity of the organism's genetic material.

In contrast, meiosis is the type of cell division that produces gametes (sperm and eggs) and results in cells with half the number of chromosomes, thus playing a crucial role in sexual reproduction. Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction primarily observed in prokaryotic organisms such as bacteria, where a single organism divides into two parts. Vegetative propagation refers to a form of asexual reproduction in plants where new individuals arise from non-reproductive tissues, like roots, stems, or leaves. Each of these processes differs significantly from mitosis, which focuses specifically on the division of somatic (body) cells.