Cell Division
Keshav Bhatia, Academic Content Writer at Edumarz
Cell division is the process by which all cells reproduce.
All cells reproduce by dividing into two daughter cells each time they divide, these daughter cells can divide and grow themselves giving rise to a new cell population. This occurs as a result of growth and division of a single parental cell and its progeny.
All organisms must form new cells:
* To grow
* To replace the dead, damaged and injured cells
* To form gametes
* To increase their population
Usually, in cellular division the nucleus divides first (Karyokinesis) and then the Cytoplasm divides(Cytokinesis). There are two sorts of Cellular division namely mitosis and meiosis:
Mitosis
In Mitosis two identical daughter cells are formed
Cellular division by mitosis results in the same number of chromosomes in the daughter cells and its progeny.
Mitosis is usually done for growth and repair in organisms.
It can occur in any part of the organism’s body.
It is also called equational division because the number of chromosomes in the parent and daughter cell is the same.
Mitosis is important for the growth and maintenance of organisms, it also plays a key part in asexual reproduction.
Meiosis
Division in meiosis results in production of four new cells.
They have half the number of chromosomes than that of the mother cell.
Usually for gamete production(gametogenesis).
It usually occurs in the reproductive organs of the organism.
It is also known as reductional division as it reduces the number of chromosomes in the produced cells to half (this reduction restores when gametes fuse for sexual reproduction).
Meiosis helps increase genetic variability, which increases the chance for progeny’s survival.