Living Environment Regents Practice Test

What cellular process is most affected by mutations that increase cell reproduction?

1. Cellular respiration

2. Mitotic cell division

3. Photosynthesis

4. Protein synthesis

The correct answer is: Mitotic cell division

The cellular process that is most affected by mutations that increase cell reproduction is mitotic cell division. This is because mitosis is the specific process through which a cell divides to produce two daughter cells, effectively allowing cellular reproduction and growth. When mutations occur that enhance the rate or regulation of cell division, it directly impacts mitosis, often leading to increased cell numbers. Mitotic cell division is tightly regulated in healthy organisms. Mutations that disrupt this regulation can lead to conditions such as cancer, where cells divide uncontrollably. Therefore, a mutation that increases cell reproduction will primarily involve changes in the mechanisms that control mitotic division, making it the key process impacted. In contrast, processes such as cellular respiration, photosynthesis, and protein synthesis do not directly relate to the pace or regulation of cell reproduction. Cellular respiration is concerned with energy production, photosynthesis with converting light energy into chemical energy in plants, and protein synthesis with building proteins from amino acids. While these processes are essential for overall cell function and survival, they are not directly linked to mutations that primarily drive increased rates of cell division.