Cell division

• Cell division


  Important for: The body to grow, Passing chromosomes from one cell to another
• Types of cell division

  • Meiosis
  • Mitosis
• Meiosis

  Occurs in the gametes (reproductive organs)
• Mitosis

  Occurs in all the other cells in the body (somatic cells)
• Mitosis


  1. Prophase

  2. Metaphase

  3. Anaphase

  4. Telophase
• Mitosis


  • A process by which a nucleus divides into two daughter cells which are genetically identical to the parent cell
• Mitosis occurs for growth of the body and as asexual reproduction in certain organisms such as the Amoeba
• Meiosis


  1. Prophase 1

  2. Metaphase 1

  3. Anaphase 1

  4. Telophase 1

  5. Metaphase 2

  6. Anaphase 2

  7. Telophase 2
• Meiosis


  • Produces cells that have half the number of chromosomes to the original
  • Cells that have half the number of chromosomes (23 in humans) are known as gametes
  • Fertilisation restores the normal number of chromosomes (46, diploid)
• Differences between Mitosis and Meiosis

  • One division occurs in one cycle (Mitosis)
  • Two divisions occur in one cycle (Meiosis)
  • Two (2) daughter cells are produced in one cycle (Mitosis)
  • Four (4) daughter cells are produced in one cycle (Meiosis)
  • Daughter cells are genetically identical known as clones (Mitosis)
  • Daughter cells are produced genetically different from each other (Meiosis)
  • Daughter cells have same chromosome number as parents (46) (Mitosis)
  • Daughter cells have half the chromosomes of the parent cells (23) (Meiosis)
  • Mitosis happens throughout the life cycle
  • Meiosis is completed after sexual maturity
• Mitosis


  The cell division that gives rise to genetically identical cells
• Meiosis


  The cell division that gives rise to cells which are genetically different
• Allele


  Any of two or more alternative forms of a gene
• Gene


  A length of DNA that is a unit of heredity and codes for a special protein