Mitosis and the cell cycle

• Cells divide in a series of stages called the cell cycle
• During the cell cycle, the genetic material is doubled and then divided into two identical cells
• Cell cycle

  1. Cell grows and increases in number of sub cellular structures (ribosomes and mitochondria). DNA replicates to form two copies of each chromosomes
  2. Mitosis: one set of chromosomes is pulled to each end of the cell and the nucleus divides
  3. cytoplasm and cell membranes divide to form two identical cells
• Cell division by mitosis is important in the growth and development of multicellular organisms