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.
• Before a cell can divide it needs to grow and increase the number of sub-cellular structures such as ribosomes and mitochondria. The DNA replicates to form two copies of each chromosome.
• In mitosis one set of chromosomes is pulled to each end of the cell and the nucleus divides.
• The cytoplasm and cell membranes divide to form two identical cells.
• Cell division by mitosis is important in the growth and development of multicellular organisms.