Institute Of Science

Std-XI Biology paper II - Zoology

Chapter no - 4. CELL DIVISION
Cell is the basic structural and functional unit of life. The new cells are produced from
pre-existing ones by the process of cell division
In unicellular organisms the process of cell division helps in multiplication (Reproduction) of
organisms. Ex Bacteria
The body of eukaryotic multicellular organisms consists of two different types of cells i.e.
Somatic cells or Body cells and Reproductive cells (Gamete producing cells or Spore producing cells) which undergo a
regulated cell division called Mitosis and Meiosis

Cell cycle The period between two successive divisions is called generation time. A series of changes or sequential
events, which occur in the life of a dividing cell is called cell cycle

Cell cycle

The gap interval present between two cell division is called cell cycle. It occurs in each and every
cell and is completed into two different steps i.e. Interphase and Mitotic phase
1] Interphase The time interval present between two mitotic phases is called interphase. Previously it was called as
resting phase, but the cell during this phase is highly active and prepares itself for division so it is now also called as
preparatory phase. It is completed into three sub-phase
a] G1-phase It is also called as first growth phase or post mitotic phase. During this phase the metabolic activities of
cells increases and the cell prepares itself for division. During this phase there is synthesis of RNA and proteins
(Histone / non-histone protein)
b] S-phase It is also called as phase of synthesis or synthetic phase. During this phase there is synthesis of DNA to
be equally distributed in daughter cells, Nucleus becomes double in size, the histone proteins required for
organization of chromosomes are also produced
c] G2-phase It is the second growth phase also called as pre-mitotic phase. During this phase there is synthesis of
tubulin, the spindle protein and RNA, there is also duplication of cell organelles such as mitochondria and
chloroplast, the centrioles duplicate and two centrosomes are formed. Thus cell prepares to enter mitotic phase
2] Mitotic phase It is divided into four different phases i.e. Prophase, Anaphase, Metaphase and Telophase

Types of cell division -

Though all cells have the capacity of division, the cell division is atypical (Binary fission) in
prokaryotes and typical in eukaryotes. In eukaryotes cell division is of following type - Amitosis, Mitosis and
Meiosis

Amitosis - In this type of cell division the nuclear membrane is retained throughout the division. The nucleus
enlarges, elongates and divides directly which is followed by Cytokinesis leading to the formation of two daughter
cells. As amitosis does not distribute the chromatin equally in the daughter cells it may lead to structural and
functional irregularities

Mitosis (Somatic cell division)

Mitosis is a type of cell division which is responsible for the formation of somatic cells hence it is
also called as somatic cell division. Mitosis is an equational cell division in which one parent cell undergoes
division to produce two identical daughter cells which are morphologically and genetically similar having same
number and kind of chromosomes as that of parent cell
The process of mitosis is completed into three different steps i.e. Interphase, Karyokinesis and
Cytokinesis

Pandey Sirs Exclusive Coaching for Biology Page 1

1] Interphase The time interval present between two mitotic division is called interphase
During this phase the cell prepares itself for division, the metabolic activities of the cell increases
and the cell enlarges in size
2] Karyokinesis The division of nucleus is called karyokinesis which is completed into four different phase i.e.
;Prophase, Anaphase, Metaphase and Telophase

Stages in mitosis

a] Prophase
1] It is the first and longest phase of mitosis
2] In early stage the chromosomes appear thin thread like called chromonema
3] During this phase the chromosomes undergo dehydration and coiling to become thick and short
4] In late prophase the chromosomes become distinct with two chromatin and centromere
5] The nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear
6] The chromosomes lie freely in the cytoplasm
7] The centrioles pass towards opposite pole

b] Metaphase
1] It is the second phase of mitosis
2] The chromosomes are thickest due to condensation
3] The chromosomes lie at the equatorial plate of the cell
4] The sister chromatids of each chromosomes undergoes duplication and produces sister chromatids which remain
connected to one centromere
5] This phase is characterized by formation of kinetic spindle
6] The spindle is made up of contractile proteinaceous chromosomal fibres and inter-polar fibres
In animal cells the spindle fibres radiate as an aster from centriole and called astral rays, hence it
is called as astral mitosis while in plant cells asters are absent and so it is called anastral mitosis

c] Anaphase
1] It is the third and shortest phase of mitosis
2] During this phase the centromere divides into two resulting in the separation of chromatids
3] Each separated chromatid is now called as daughter chromosome

Pandey Sirs Exclusive Coaching for Biology Page 2

 The kinetic spindle now has four types of fibres made up of microtubules. They are -
1] Astral rays - Radiating away from centriolar pairs towards the periphery of the cell. It is absent in plant cell
2] Inter-polar fibres - Extending between the opposite pairs of centrioles
3] Chromosomal fibres - Connecting centromeres to respective poles
4] Inter-chromosomal fibres - That appear between the centromeres of daughter chromatids, also called inter-zonal
fibres
The chromosomal spindle fibres undergo contraction and pull the daughter chromosomes towards
opposite poles while the inter-chromosomal fibres elongate and push the daughter chromosomes till they reach the
respective poles
d] Telophase
1] It is the fourth and last phase of karyokinesis
2] The chromosomes are present at opposite poles
3] The chromosomes undergo hydration and start uncoiling and become thin
4] There is reorganization of nuclear membrane and nucleolus
5] Each end consist of one nucleus

3] Cytokinesis After the formation of two nucleus at opposite pole, in plant cells there is formation of cell plate in
the center of the cytoplasm which passes towards the peripheral side and forms two daughter cells while in animal
cells there is formation of furrow in plasma membrane which deepens and forms two daughter cells. Thus the two
daughter cells formed are exact copies of each other and the parental cell

Meiosis
Meiosis is the characteristic of reproductive cell. It is a type of cell division in which a single cell
divides to produce four daughter cells which are different form each other and also from parental cell
It is also called as reduction division because the diploid number of chromosomes of parent
cell are reduced to haploid number in daughter cells
Meiosis is completed into two distinct stages Meiosis I and Meiosis II. Each division of
meiosis is completed into two phases i.e. Karyokinesis and Cytokinesis

1] Meiosis I It is also called as reduction division because in Meiosis I the chromosome number is reduced to
]half

Pandey Sirs Exclusive Coaching for Biology Page 3

 Telophase I

Karyokinesis It is completed into four distinct phases i.e. Prophase-I, MetaphaseI, AnaphaseI and TelophaseI

a] Prophase I - It is the longest phase and is divided into five sub-phases Leptotene, Zygotene , Pachytene,
Diplotene and Dikinesis
1] Leptotene
1] The nucleus enlarges in size
2] The chromosomes are long, slender, thin thread like and distinct
3] Each chromosome consist of two chromatids but appears as a single thread

2] Zygotene
1] Due to coiling the chromosomes become more shorter and thicker
2] The homologous chromosomes are attracted towards each other
3] After coming close to each other they lie side by side along there entire length and thus pairing takes place
4] The pairing of homologous chromosome is also called as synapsis
5] The pair of homologous chromosome is called bivalent in which one chromosome is paternal and other is maternal

3] Pachytene
1] The chromosome become more short and thick due to coiling and super coiling
2] Each chromosome consist of four chromatids
3] Crossing over occurs between non-sister chromatin by formation of X called chiasma

4] Diplotene After crossing over the homologous chromosomes start repelling each other and begin to separate, the
chiasma is still prominent further the chiasmata is shifted towards terminal ends of chromosome, this phenomenon
is called as terminalization

5] Dikinesis
1] The non-sister chromatids have exchanged their segments form the point of crossing over
2] The nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear
3] The chromosomes lie freely in the cytoplasm
4] Formation of spindle fibers at opposite poles

2] Metaphase I
1] In this phase the chromosomes are the thickest
2] The chromosomes are located at the center or equatorial plate of the cell
3] The spindle fibers are well developed running from pole to pole or pole to centromere of chromosomes
4] The chromosomes do not undergo duplication and are ready to separate

3] Anaphase I
1] The spindle fiber undergo contraction
2] Due to contraction of spindle fiber each chromosome with its two chromatid and undivided centromere moves
towards opposite poles
3] During this phase reduction in number of chromosome occurs as a result each pole receives haploid number of
chromosomes
4] The chromosome at each pole is the mixture of maternal and paternal chromosome

4] Telophase I
1] The chromosome become thin and elongated
2] Reappearance of nucleolus and nuclear membrane
3] Spindle fiber disappear
4] Formation of cell plate in the center of the cytoplasm

2] Cytokinesis After Meiosis I the cytoplasm may or may not divide to produce two daughter cells

Interkinesis The time interval present between Meiosis I and Meiosis II is called interkinesis

Meiosis II It is also called as equational cell division. It is completed into two steps i.e. Karyokinesis and
Cytokinesis

Pandey Sirs Exclusive Coaching for Biology Page 4

1] Karyokinesis It is the division of nucleus which is completed in four different phase i.e. Prophase II, Metaphase
II, Anaphase II and Telophase II

1] Prophase II
1] The chromosomes are thin with a single distinct centromere
2] The nuclear membrane and nucleolus disappear
3] Beginning of formation of spindle fibers simultaneously in both cells

2] Metaphase II
1] Due to coiling and super coiling the chromosomes are more shorter, thicker and prominent
2] The chromosomes lie at equatorial plate of the cell
3] Spindle fibers are well developed running from pole to pole or from pole to centromere of the chromosome

3] Anaphase II
1] The spindle fibers undergo constrictions
2] The centromere undergoes division
3] The chromosomes are pulled towards opposite poles
4] The chromosomes appear V shaped or L shaped
5] The number or chromosomes are equally distributed at opposite poles in both the cells
4] Telophase II
1] The chromosomes reach to opposite poles
2] The chromosomes appear thin thread like in structure
3] Reappearance of nucleolus and nuclear membrane
4] Thus two nuclei are formed in each cell, the two cells consist of four nuclei

2] Cytokinesis
After karyokinesis immediately the cytoplasm undergoes division and forms four daughter cells
at the end of Meiosis II
Each cell consist of half number of chromosomes as in parent cell

Significance of Meiosis
1] It maintains the same number of chromosomes in every generation
2] Due to crossing over variation occurs in organisms

Pandey Sirs Exclusive Coaching for Biology Page 5

3] It helps in the process of evolution

Diagrammatic representation of Meiosis -

Difference between mitosis and meiosis

By - Prof. Santosh M Pandey

M.Sc, B.Ed

Pandey Sirs Exclusive Coaching for Biology Page 6