What process results in the division of body (somatic) cells resulting in two identical daughter cells?

Mitosis is the process that results in the division of body (somatic) cells, producing two genetically identical daughter cells. It is essential for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, the cell goes through a series of well-defined phases—prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—where the duplicated chromosomes are aligned, separated, and the cell divides its cytoplasm (cytokinesis) to form two new cells that have the same number of chromosomes as the original cell.

In contrast, meiosis is a process that leads to the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs) and results in four genetically diverse daughter cells, each with half the chromosome number of the original cell. Linkage refers to the tendency of genes that are close to each other on a chromosome to be inherited together, and polygenic inheritance involves multiple genes influencing a single trait. Neither of these processes involve the division of somatic cells into two identical daughter cells. Hence, the choice of mitosis is justified as it specifically addresses the question's focus on somatic cell division.