Most cells divide at some time during their life cycle, and some divide dozens of times before

they die. Organisms rely on cell division for reproduction, growth, and repair and
replacement of damaged or worn out cells.

The cell cycle or division is a process whereby the cell undergoes division or duplication by
itself. This process will start in the nucleus of the cell in the most eukaryotic cells. This is
typically divided into two stages; interphase and mitosis.

Eukaryotic Cells

Interphase is the phase of the cell cycle in which a typical cell spends most of its life.
During this phase, the cell copies its DNA in preparation for mitosis. Interphase is the
'daily living' or metabolic phase of the cell, in which the cell obtains nutrients and
metabolizes them, grows, reads its DNA, and conducts other "normal" cell functions. The
majority of eukaryotic cells spend most of their time in interphase. This phase was formerly
called the resting phase. However, interphase does not describe a cell that is merely resting;
rather, the cell is actively living, and preparing for later cell division, so the name was
changed. A common misconception is that interphase is the first stage of mitosis. However,
since mitosis is the division of the nucleus, prophase is actually the first stage.

The stage between two successive cell divisions and about 90% of a cells time in a normal
cellular cycle may be spent in this phase. In Interphase, there are three distinctive
processes.
G1 (Growth 1),Cells grow and synthesizes its structural protein and enzymes ready for the
next activity. The cell grows and functions normally. During this time, a high amount of protein
synthesis occurs and the cell grows (to about double its original size) - more organelles are
produced and the volume of the cytoplasm increases. If the cell is not to divide again, it will
enter G0.
Synthesis (S), in which the cell duplicates its DNA (via semiconservative replication).
G2 (Growth 2), in which the cell resumes its growth in preparation for division. The
mitochondria divide and the cell continues to grow until mitosis begins. In plants, chloroplasts
also divide during G2.
After entering Interphase, it is now ready for the next stage:

Mitosis, derived from the Latin word mito meaning threads. Process in which a cells
nucleus replicates and divides in preparation for division of the cell. Mitosis results in two
cells that are genetically identical, a necessary condition for the normal functioning of
virtually all cells. Mitosis is vital for growth; for repair and replacement of damaged or worn
out cells; and for asexual reproduction, or reproduction without eggs and sperm. This
division is divided into several stages.

1 Prophase the replicated, linked DNA strands slowly wrap around proteins that in turn coil and
condense into two short, thick, rodlike structures called chromatids, attached by the centromere. Two
structures called centrioles, both located on one side of the nucleus, separate and move toward opposite
poles of the cell. As the centrioles move apart, they begin to radiate thin, hollow, proteins called
microtubules. The microtubules arrange themselves in the shape of a football, or spindle, that spans the
cell, with the widest part at the center of the cell and the narrower ends at opposite poles.

2 Prometaphase is marked by the disintegration of the nuclear membrane. As the spindle forms, the
nuclear membrane breaks down into tiny sacs or vesicles that are dispersed in the cytoplasm. The
spindle fibers attach to the chromatids near the centromeres, and tug and push the chromatids so that
they line up in the equatorial plane of the cell halfway between the poles. Like two individuals standing
back to back at the equator, one chromatid faces one pole of the cell, and its linked partner faces the
opposite pole.

3 Metaphase, exactly half of the chromatids face one pole, and the other half face the other pole. This
equilibrium position is called the metaphase plate

4 Anaphase begins when the centromeres split, separating the identical chromatids into single
chromosomes, which then move along the spindle fibers to opposite poles of the cell. At the end of
anaphase, two identical groups of single chromosomes congregate at opposite poles of the cell.

5 Telophase, the final stage of mitosis, a new nuclear membrane forms around each new group of
chromosomes. The spindle fibers break down and the newly formed chromosomes begin to unwind. If
viewed under a light microscope, the chromosomes appear to fade away. They exist, however, in the
form of chromatin, the extended, thin strands of DNA too fine to be seen except with electron
microscopes. Mitosis accomplishes replication and division of the nucleus, but the cell has yet to divide.
Meiosis, process of cell division in which the cells genetic information, contained in
chromosomes, is mixed and divided into sex cells with half the normal number of
chromosomes. The sex cells can later combine to form offspring with the full number of
chromosomes. The random sorting of chromosomes during meiosis assures that each new
sex cell, and therefore each new offspring, has a unique genetic inheritance. Meiosis differs
from normal cell division, or mitosis, in that it involves two consecutive cell divisions
instead of one and the genetic material contained in chromosomes is not copied during the
second meiotic division. Whereas mitosis produces identical daughter cells, meiosis
randomly mixes the chromosomes, resulting in unique combinations of chromosomes in
each daughter cell. It is also divided into various stages.

First Meiotic Division

Prophase I - each long DNA strand wraps around proteins that in turn coil and condense to
form a chromosome. Since the DNA was copied during interphase, each chromosome
condenses to form two identical chromatids, joined at a centromere. two structures called
centrioles, both located on one side of the nucleus, separate and move toward opposite
sides of the cell. As the centrioles move apart, they radiate thin hollow structures called
spindle fibers. The membrane around the nucleus of the cell breaks down, marking the
beginning of the next stage.

Metaphase I - the spindle fibers attach to the chromatids near the centrioles. The spindle
fibers move the tetrads so that they line up in a plane halfway between two centrioles.

Anaphase I - begins when the spindle fibers pull the tetrads apart, pulling the maternal
and paternal chromosomes toward opposite sides of the cell.

Telophase I - when the two new groups of chromosomes reach opposite sides of the cell. A
nuclear membrane may form around the two new groups of chromosomes and a division of
cell cytoplasm forms two new daughter cells.

Second Meiotic Division

Prophase II - Once again the centrioles radiate spindle fibers as they move to opposite sides
of the cell

Metaphase II - the chromosomes line up along the plane in the center of the cell, and in
anaphase II the pairs of chromatids are pulled apart, each moving toward opposite ends of
the cell.

Anaphase II The chromosomes will separate and moves toward the poles

Telophase II- completes meiosis. The spindle fibers disappear and a new nuclear membrane
forms around each new group of chromosomes to form four haploid cells

Cytokinesis- the cells cytoplasm separates in half, with each half containing one nucleus.
Animals and plants accomplish cytokinesis in slightly different ways. In animals, the cell
membrane pinches in, creating a cleavage furrow, until the mother cell is pinched in half. In
plants, cellulose and other materials that make up the cell wall are transported to the
midline of the cell and a new cell wall is constructed. The process of DNA replication, the
precise alignment of the chromosomes in mitosis, and the successful separation of identical
chromatids in anaphase results in two new cells that are genetically identical. The new cells
enter interphase, and the cell cycle begins again.

Prokaryotic Cells

Fission (biology), type of asexual reproduction characterized by division of the body into
two or more parts, each of which develops into a complete individual. Two-part, or binary,
fission may be identical with cell division, or it may involve a reorganization of the
cytoplasm and a building up of new cellular structures. Fission is common among single-
celled organisms but is rare in multicellular organisms, as it requires a regeneration of
specialized parts in each of the daughter individuals. Binary fission in microorganisms may
be transverse (occur across the width of the organism), as in the paramecium, or it may be
longitudinal (occur along the length of the organism), as in the euglena, a colonial
flagellate.

MEIOSIS MITOSIS
A type of cellular A process of asexual
reproduction in which the reproduction in which the
number of chromosomes are cells divide in two producing
DEFINITION
reduced by half through the a replica with an equal
separation of homologous number of chromosomes
chromosomes in diploid cells haploid cell
Sexual reproduction Cellular Reproduction &
FUNCTION General growth and repair of
the body
TYPES OF Sexual Asexual
REPRODUCTION
Humans, Animals, plants All organisms
OCCURS IN:
and Fungis
GENETICALLY: Different Identical
Yes, mixing of chromosomes No, crossing over cant occur
CROSSING OVER: an occur

YES NO
PAIRING OF
HOMOLOGUES:
NUMBER OF 2 1
DIVISIONS:
 4 2
NUMBER OF HAPLOID
DAUGHTER CELLS
PRODUCE:
CHROMOSOME Reduced by HALF Remains the SAME
NUMBER:
Interphase Interphase
Prophase I > Metaphase I > Prophase > Metaphase >
Anaphase I > Telophase I > Anaphase > Telophase >
STEPS: Prophase II > Metaphase II > Cytokinesis.
Anaphase II > Telophase II.

KARYOKINESIS: Occurs in Interphase I Occurs in Interphase

Occurs in Telophase I & Occurs in Telophase
CYTOKINESIS:
Telophase II
The Centrometre do not The Centrometres split
CENTROMETRES
separate during Anaphase I. during Anaphase
SPLIT:
But during Anaphase II
Sex cell only: female egg cells Makes everything other than
CREATES:
Male sperm cells sex cell
DISCOVERER: OSCAR HERTWIG WALTER FLEMMING