CELL DIVISION

Cells divide through meiosis or mitosis.

Both meiosis and mitosis are crucial biological processes that play essential roles in growth,
development, and reproduction in living organisms.

Importance of Mitosis

1. Growth and Development:

• Mitosis allows organisms to grow from a single cell (zygote) into a complex
multicellular organism. This process continues throughout the organism's life,
enabling the growth of tissues and organs.

2. Tissue Repair and Regeneration:

• Mitosis is vital for repairing damaged tissues and replacing dead or injured cells.
For instance, when you get a cut, mitosis is responsible for producing new skin cells
to heal the wound.

3. Asexual Reproduction:

• In some organisms, mitosis is a method of asexual reproduction. For example,

many plants and some animals reproduce by budding, binary fission, or vegetative
propagation, all of which involve mitotic cell divisions.

4. Genetic Stability:

• Mitosis ensures that each daughter cell receives an identical set of chromosomes
as the parent cell. This genetic consistency is crucial for maintaining the
characteristics of a species across generations.

Importance of Meiosis

1. Genetic Diversity:

• Meiosis introduces genetic variation through processes like crossing-over

(exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes) and
independent assortment (random distribution of homologous chromosomes to
daughter cells). This genetic diversity is fundamental for evolution and adaptation
to changing environments.

2. Sexual Reproduction:

• Meiosis produces gametes (sperm and eggs) with half the number of
chromosomes (haploid) compared to the parent cell (diploid). When two gametes
fuse during fertilization, they restore the diploid number of chromosomes in the
zygote, ensuring the continuity of genetic information from one generation to the
next.

3. Reduction of Chromosome Number:

• Meiosis reduces the chromosome number by half, preventing the doubling of

chromosomes in each generation. This reduction is crucial for maintaining the
stability of a species' chromosome number over time.
 4. Genetic Recombination and Evolution:

• The genetic recombination that occurs during meiosis contributes to the genetic
variation seen within a population. This variation is a key driver of natural
selection and evolutionary processes, enabling species to adapt and survive in
changing environments.

Summary

• Mitosis is essential for growth, development, tissue repair, asexual reproduction, and
maintaining genetic stability within an organism. It produces two genetically identical
daughter cells from a single parent cell.

• Meiosis is crucial for sexual reproduction, generating genetic diversity, and reducing the
chromosome number in gametes. It produces four genetically distinct haploid cells from a
single diploid parent cell, facilitating the combination of genetic material from two parents
during fertilization.

Both processes are integral to the life cycle of organisms, ensuring survival, adaptation, and
continuity of genetic information across generations.

Mitosis
Mitosis is the process by which a eukaryotic cell divides to produce two identical daughter cells. It
consists of several stages:

1. Interphase

• Several activities occur to prepare for cell division.

• Chromosomes are not visible as distinct bodies, but as long threats of
chromatin.
• Genetic material (DNA) replicates so as to make two chromatids.
• Cell builds up a large energy store to carry out the process of cell division.
2. Prophase:

• Chromosomes condense and become visible.

• The nucleolus and nuclear membrane starts to break down.

• The mitotic spindle begins to form.

3. Metaphase:

• Chromosomes line up along the metaphase plate /the cell's equatorial plane.

• Spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the chromosomes.

4. Anaphase:

• Sister chromatids are pulled apart toward opposite poles of the cell by the spindle
fibers.

5. Telophase:

• Chromatids reach the poles and begin to de-condense.

• The nuclear membrane re-forms around each set of chromosomes.

• The spindle fibers disappear.

6. Cytokinesis:

• The cytoplasm divides, resulting in two separate daughter cells.

Meiosis
Meiosis is the process by which a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the
original amount of genetic information. These cells are our sex cells – sperm in males, eggs in
females. Meiosis has two successive divisions: meiosis I and meiosis II.

Meiosis I

1. Interphase

• Several activities occur to prepare for cell division.

• Chromosomes are not visible as distinct bodies, but as long threats of chromatin.

• Genetic material (DNA) replicates so as to make two chromatids.

• Cell builds up a large energy store to carry out the process of cell division.

2. Prophase I:

• Chromosomes condense (shorten and thicken and become more visible) and
homologous chromosomes pair up in a process called synapsis.

• The homologous chromosomes coil around each other and chromatids break and
rejoin at certain points called chiasmata, this is known as Crossing-over occurs,
where homologous chromosomes exchange genetic material.

• The nucleolus and nuclear membrane break down, and the spindle fibers forms.

3. Metaphase I:

• Homologous chromosome pairs (tetrads) align along the metaphase plate/cell’s

equatorial plane.

• Spindle fibers attach to each homologous chromosome with the centromeres of

homologous chromosome pair pointing towards opposite poles.

4. Anaphase I:

• Homologous chromosomes are pulled to opposite poles of the cell.

• Sister chromatids remain attached at their centromeres.

5. Telophase I and Cytokinesis:

• Chromosomes arrive at the poles, and the cell divides into two haploid cells.

• The nuclear membrane may re-form, and the spindle fibers disappear.

A short resting phase, interphase follow.

Meiosis II

1. Prophase II:

• Chromosomes condense again, and a new spindle forms in each haploid cell.

• The nucleolus and nuclear membrane break down.

 2. Metaphase II:

• Chromosomes align along the metaphase plate in each haploid cell.

• Spindle fibers attach to the centromeres of the sister chromatids.

3. Anaphase II:

• Sister chromatids are pulled apart to opposite poles of the cell.

4. Telophase II and Cytokinesis:

• Chromatids reach the poles, de-condense, and are surrounded by newly formed
nuclear membranes.

• The cells divide, resulting in four genetically distinct haploid cells.

These stages ensure the correct distribution of chromosomes to the daughter cells, whether
through mitosis for growth and repair or meiosis for producing gametes.
 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MITOSIS AND MEIOSIS

Feature Mitosis Meiosis

Growth, tissue repair, Production of gametes for sexual
Purpose asexual reproduction reproduction
Number of Divisions One Two
Number of Daughter
Cells Two Four
Genetically unique, containing half
Genetically identical to the number of chromosomes
Genetic Composition parent cell (clones) (haploid) compared to parent cell
Maintains the same
Chromosome chromosome number as Reduces chromosome number by
Number parent cell (diploid) half (diploid to haploid)
Germ cells (cells that produce
Occurs In Somatic (body) cells gametes)
Crossing Over No Yes, during Prophase I
Synapsis of
Homologous
Chromosomes No Yes, during Prophase I
Cellular reproduction and
general growth and repair Genetic diversity through sexual
Function of the body reproduction
Prophase I, Metaphase I, Anaphase I,
Prophase, Metaphase, Telophase I, Prophase II, Metaphase
Phases Anaphase, Telophase II, Anaphase II, Telophase II
Cytokinesis Occurs once Occurs twice
Homologous
Chromosomes Do not pair up Pair up during Prophase I
Daughter Cell Type Diploid (2n) Haploid (n)
No, daughter cells are Yes, due to crossing over and
Genetic Variation identical independent assortment
Enables multicellular
organisms to grow, Produces gametes (sperm and eggs)
Role in Life Cycle develop, and repair tissues for reproduction