Question

DNA replication occurs prior to meiosis and _________.

Answer 1

A. Mitosis is the correct answer.

DNA replication occurs in the two major types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis.

Mitosis is the splitting of a normal cell into two daughter cells and involves complete replication of the cells DNA to produce two identical copies. Meiosis is a specialised and more complex two-stage form of cellular division related to sex cells and involves DNA replication followed by an exchange of DNA material within/between the chromosomes to mix genes from both parents and produce daughter cells with half the number of chromosomes as the original parent cell. Animal sperms and eggs are examples of cells produced by meiosis and contain half the number of chromosomes as normal cells. When combined during fertilization the egg and sperm produce a cell with the full compliment of chromosomes.

Cytokinesis is a part of the cellular life cycle that is related specifically to the division of the cytoplasm (basically the "soup" of material inside the cell). It is part of the cellular division process but not specifically related to nuclear division (i.e. DNA replication).

Transcription relates to the production of RNA from DNA which is then used for protein synthesis. DNA is not replicated during the transcription process, rather, this is a separate process critical for the production of proteins by the cell.