Living Environment Regents Practice Test

The process of development from a zygote includes which key mechanisms?

1. Mitosis and mutation

2. Mitosis and differentiation

3. Cell division and apoptosis

4. Fertilization and differentiation

The correct answer is: Mitosis and differentiation

The correct response highlights the essential processes of mitosis and differentiation involved in the development from a zygote. After fertilization, the zygote undergoes mitosis, which is the process of cell division that allows the zygote to replicate and produce multiple cells, forming a multicellular organism. This series of mitotic divisions leads to an increasing number of cells, which begin to form tissues and organs. Differentiation is the process by which these cells develop specific functions and characteristics that are distinct from one another. As development progresses, cells become specialized to perform different roles, such as muscle cells, nerve cells, or blood cells. This specialization is crucial for the organism's overall structure and function. The combination of mitosis (the division and multiplication of cells) and differentiation (the specialization of those cells) provides the foundation for the complex development of an organism from a single fertilized egg.