Which of the following describes a characteristic of the mitotic process?

The characteristic of the mitotic process is best described by the division of somatic cells. Mitosis is specifically the process by which one somatic (non-reproductive) cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells, maintaining the same chromosome number as the parent cell. This process is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.

In contrast, the reduction of chromosome number is a hallmark of meiosis, not mitosis, as meiosis leads to the formation of gametes with half the original chromosome number. The formation of gametes is also associated with meiosis, further distinguishing it from the mitotic process. Cellular differentiation, while related to the development of specialized cell types, is not a direct characteristic of mitosis itself; rather, it pertains to the process by which a less specialized cell becomes a more specialized cell, which can involve multiple rounds of cell division including both mitosis and other cellular processes. Thus, the division of somatic cells is the most accurate descriptor of mitosis.