CELL DIVISION

Related term
Cell Phase
Why divide
Type of Cell division
Mitosis
Meiosis
RELATED TERM
The Chromosome’s Structure
Related Term

 Chromatin, is a mass of uncoiled DNA and associated proteins

called histones
 Homologus, Diploid organisms have two copies of each
chromosome (except the sex chromosomes). Each pair of
chromosomes is homologous
 Gene, A small segment of DNA that contains the information
necessary to construct a protein or part of a protein (polypeptide)
is called a gene. 
 Haploid, Type of cells having one complete set of chromosomes. 
 Diploid, Type of cells having two complete sets of chromosomes.
 Allele, an opposant of certain pair of chromosome which
determine the same phenotypic characters. Leading to
homozygotic and heterozygotic.
Cell Phase
Why divide
 Single-celled organisms divide to reproduce.
 Cell division in multicellular organisms
enables the organism to grow larger while
the cells remain small. 
 Organisms with many cells can have cells
which are specialized for different functions
and tasks.  For example, red blood cells are
specialized for carrying oxygen but neurons
(nervous tissue) are specialized for
conducting signals from one cell to another.
 Some cells of multicellular organisms must
divide to produce sex cells (gametes).
Type of Cell Division
 A cell divides by pinching into two. Each of two daughter cells
produced contains genetic material inherited from the original
(parent) cell.
 Type of cell division :
Binnary fission, Prokaryotic cells do not undergo mitosis. When
the cell divides, the circular chromosome replicates itself (DNA
synthesis) and the cell pinches into two.
Mitosis, produces two daughter cells that are identical to the
parent cell.  If the parent cell is haploid (N), then the daughter
cells will be haploid.   If the parent cell is diploid, the daughter
cells will also be diploid. 
Meiosis, produces daughter cells that have one half the number
of chromosomes as the parent cell. 
Mitosis
Meiosis
 Sexual reproduction occurs only in eukaryotes. During the
formation of gametes, the number of chromosomes is reduced
by half, and returned to the full amount when the two gametes
fuse during fertilization.
 Two successive nuclear divisions occur, Meiosis I (Reduction)
and Meiosis II (Division). Meiosis produces 4 haploid cells.
Mitosis produces 2 diploid cells. The old name for meiosis was
reduction/ division. Meiosis I reduces the ploidy level from 2n to
n (reduction) while Meiosis II divides the remaining set of
chromosomes in a mitosis-like process (division). Most of the
differences between the processes occur during Meiosis I.
Meiosis:
Unique

 Prophase I has a unique event -- the pairing (by an as yet

undiscovered mechanism) of homologous chromosomes. Synapsis is
the process of linking of the replicated homologous chromosomes. The
resulting chromosome is termed a tetrad, being composed of two
chromatids from each chromosome, forming a thick (4-strand)
structure. Crossing-over may occur at this point. During crossing-over
chromatids break and may be reattached to a different homologous
chromosome.
 Thus, instead of producing only two types of chromosome, four
different chromosomes are produced. This doubles the variability of
gamete genotypes. The occurrence of a crossing-over is indicated by a
special structure, a chiasma (plural chiasmata) since the recombined
inner alleles will align more with others of the same type. Near the end
of Prophase I, the homologous chromosomes begin to separate
slightly, although they remain attached at chiasmata.
Meiosis:
Steps of Meiotic 1
Steps of meiotic 1
Steps of Meiotic 2
Steps of Meiotic 2