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Multiple Choice
What is the cell division that occurs in the earliest stages of zygote development called?
A
Mitosis
B
Cleavage
C
Binary fission
D
Meiosis
Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that the problem is asking about the type of cell division that occurs immediately after fertilization, during the earliest stages of zygote development.
Recall that the zygote is the initial cell formed when a new organism is conceived, and it undergoes rapid cell divisions to form a multicellular structure.
Recognize that the term 'cleavage' refers to the series of rapid mitotic divisions that occur in the early embryo, leading to an increase in cell number without an increase in mass.
Differentiate cleavage from other types of cell division: Mitosis is a general process of cell division for growth and repair, binary fission is a form of asexual reproduction in prokaryotes, and meiosis is a type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, used in the production of gametes.
Conclude that the correct term for the cell division occurring in the earliest stages of zygote development is 'cleavage', as it specifically describes the rapid mitotic divisions in the early embryo.