Corrected entry: Throughout the film, Duchovny calls the splitting of the alien organisms to form 2 identical ones 'mitosis.' This is not the correct term. Mitosis refers to the replication of material at a cellular level, and happens in all living organisms. Since they are multicellular creatures, they are having 'fission' reactions, which is the creation of 2 identical creatures, like for example hydra. A former government scientist and professor should know the difference. It is basic biology.
Andy Benham
5th Mar 2006
Correction: Obviously, mitosis is what was the first thing that came into his mind to describe this process (it is new to him too). Besides, fission processes do NOT always result in the creation of two identical bodies - it just simply means the division of a cell (or atom, the term is normally used in nuclear physics).
Andy Benham ★