The process of cells dividing is called mitosis, specifically for somatic (body) cells. Mitosis is an essential part of the cell cycle, allowing organisms to grow, repair tissues, and reproduce asexually. During mitosis, a single cell divides into two identical daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the original cell. The stages of mitosis include prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis. Mitosis is vital for maintaining genetic continuity across generations of cells, ensuring proper functioning and development in multicellular organisms.