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What is Cell Division?

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Cell division is the process that cells go through in order to divide. Cells may divide for several reasons, and there are two types of cell division depending on the purpose. The cell division associated with sexual reproduction is one type, called meiosis. The other type, the cell division associated with growth and cell replacement or repair, is called mitosis. In both types of cell division, the nucleus splits and DNA is replicated.

The cell division called mitosis produces daughter cells that have all the genetic material of the parent cell — a complete set of chromosomes. However, chromosomes are not the only material that needs to be divided and transferred to the daughter cells: there are cytoplasm and the cell membrane to divide as well. Cytokinesis is the process of dividing the cytoplasm and the cell membrane, and this process may follow immediately after mitosis or occur separately, depending on the organism involved. Together, these two processes make up the mitotic phases of the cell cycle.

A cell dividing into two daughter cells.
A cell dividing into two daughter cells.

The phases of cell division are prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, and these occur in both mitosis and meiosis. A fifth phases called prometaphase occurring between prophase and metaphase is designated by some, but not all sources. Interphase, which is not part of mitosis, is a preparatory stage during which the parent cell makes a copy of its genetic material so that each daughter cell can have a complete set. Therefore, mitosis is an ongoing and repetitive process, alternating with interphase.

The stages of mitosis.
The stages of mitosis.

Meiosis, on the other hand, reduces the number of chromosomes by half, so that, for example, human egg and sperm cells, called gametes, each have 23 chromosomes and can join to produce a zygote with 46. It has two division phases, whereas mitosis has only one. Meiosis in animals is called gametogenesis, specifically, spermatogenesis, producing sperm, in males and oogenesis, producing eggs or ova, in females. In the unfused state, the egg and sperm are called haploid cells — having only a single set of chromosomes, and they become diploid — having a pair of each type of chromosome — again when they unite during fertilization.

Sperm cells have twenty-three chromosomes.
Sperm cells have twenty-three chromosomes.

Meiosis specifically works to combine the genetic material of two individuals. When there is only one parent in the reproductive cycle — for example, in ferns, which reproduce through spore — the daughter cell must have the full genetic material — all the chromosomes — of the parent cell. Therefore, in the case of the creation of spore — sporogenesis — reproduction is accomplished without meiosis.

Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to TheHealthBoard about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...
Mary Elizabeth
Mary Elizabeth

Mary Elizabeth is passionate about reading, writing, and research, and has a penchant for correcting misinformation on the Internet. In addition to contributing articles to TheHealthBoard about art, literature, and music, Mary Elizabeth is a teacher, composer, and author. She has a B.A. from the University of Chicago’s writing program and an M.A. from the University of Vermont, and she has written books, study guides, and teacher materials on language and literature, as well as music composition content for Sibelius Software.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon996627

What are the conditions that apply for mitosis to take place.?

anon356066

Mitosis is for the growth and repair of a human body.

anon332478

Which energy works in cell division, and is it the same energy as in meiosis cell division?

anon320413

Why is cell division so important?

anon319641

The purpose of cell division is to make up all the organs' parts inside the baby's body.

anon228852

how many cells can an adult man produce in a second?

anon222236

What are the purposes of cell division?

anon166929

why is cell division needed?

anon156412

what are the seven reasons for cell division?

anon137302

i am a student studying in grade 8 and i am having difficulty in answering the following question: why do cells have to divide after they reach a certain size? please answer this question for me.

anon118521

What is the purpose of cell division in single celled organism?

anon115073

what is needed for cell division?

anon103652

so what part is it, when removed, the cell won't reproduce?

anon90891

what is the purpose of each cell division? where does it take place?

anon88846

i am in grade 8. can you please tell me the difference between fertilization and pollination?

anon83668

so helpful! thank you so much!

anon82454

how do these factors affect cell division: time of day; stress; inflammation.

anon81983

how does it work?

anon78981

what are the two major reasons for cell division?

anon63709

why do cells undergo cell division? for what purpose?

anon59813

what parts of the cell are important in cell reproduction?

anon57279

what role does cell division have in healing the body?

anon50934

why is cell division so important?

anon47331

are all cells the same size?

anon40027

why is each stage of the cell cycle a prerequisite to the other?

anon178

what is the purpose of cell division?

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    • A cell dividing into two daughter cells.
      By: Luk Cox
      A cell dividing into two daughter cells.
    • The stages of mitosis.
      By: Vanessa
      The stages of mitosis.
    • Sperm cells have twenty-three chromosomes.
      By: fotoliaxrender
      Sperm cells have twenty-three chromosomes.
    • Ferns reproduce using spores.
      By: vencav
      Ferns reproduce using spores.
    • The nucelus, which is located at the center of the cell, splits during the cell division process.
      By: jscreationzs
      The nucelus, which is located at the center of the cell, splits during the cell division process.
    • The sex cells, gametes, each have 23 chromosomes.
      By: Giovanni Cancemi
      The sex cells, gametes, each have 23 chromosomes.