CELL DIVISION

• The process of cell division is almost same in

all organisms.
• A cell passes through phases of growth after
which are able to duplicate their
chromosomes before they divide.
• These phases in the life of a cell constitute the
cell cycle.
 The cell cycle
• We can distinguish two main phases in the life
of a cell.
(i) Interphase - Non-dividing period (Growth
phase)
(ii) Dividing phase - Also called M-phase (M for
mitosis or meiosis)
 Interphase - (Inter = in between)
• The interval between
two successive cell
divisions is termed
interphase (phase at
which the cell is not
dividing).
• It is the longest period
in the cell cycle
• The interphase is
subdivided into three
main periods - G1, S
and G2.
G1 (Gap-1 ) Phase
 S or synthetic Phase
• Lot of DNA is (synthesised). A
chromosome contains a single
double helical strand of DNA
molecule. After S-phase each
chromosome becomes
longitudinally double except at
centromere, and thus, it has two
molecules of DNA and two
chromatids. Thus each
chromatid contains one
molecule of DNA. The two
chromatids are joined by a
centromere (which does not
divide at this stage) to form a
single chromosome.
G2 (GAP 2) phase
M-phase or dividing phase
 Kinds of cell division
• There are two kinds of cell division- mitotic
cell division and meiotic cell division.
• Mitotic : Cell division is for growth and
replacement of older cells by new cells
wherein the two daughter cells are identical
and similar to mother cell in all respects.
Mitotic cell division occurs in haploid as well
as diploid cells.
Mitosis
 Meosis
• Meiotic cell division occurs in the gonads for
sexual reproduction to produce gametes. The
resultant cells, egg (in female) and sperms (in
male), possess half the chromosome number
of that present in the parent cell. Meiotic cell
division takes place only in diploid cells
responsible for production of haploid spores
or gametes.
Meosis
• Mitosis (mitos = thread) Mitosis is divided into
4 phases or stages termed as
• (i) Prophase
• (ii) Metaphase
• (iii) Anaphase
• (iv) Telophase
 Prophase
• It shows three subphases : of Life
• (i) Early prophase
• (a) Centriole divides and each of the two
centrioles start moving towards opposite poles
of the nucleus of the dividing cell.
• (b) Chromosomes appear as long threads, and
start coiling.
• (c) Nucleus enlarges and becomes less distinct
 Middle prophase
• (a) Chromosome condensation is complete
and they become short and thick
• (b) Each chromosome is made up of two
chromatids held together at their
centromeres.
• (c) Each chromatid contains newly replicated
daughter DNA molecule.
 Late Prophase
• (a) Centrioles reach the opposite poles of the
dividing cell.
• (b) Some spindle fibres extend from pole to
the equator of the dividing cell.
• (c) Nuclear membrane disappears
• (d) Nucleolus is not visible
 Metaphase
• (a) chromosomes are brought towards the
equator of the cell, with the help of spindle
fibres.
• (b) Each chromosome becomes attached to the
two spindle fibres by centromere.
• Whereas each centromere is joined to the
opposite poles.
• (c) The sister chromatids are not yet separated.
because the centromere has not divided
 Anaphase
(a) Centromeres of all the chromosomes divide and then each
chromatid becomes a chromosome.
(b) Spindle fibres contract and pull the centromeres to the opposite
poles.
(c) As the chromosomes are pulled by spindle fibres to opposite
poles by their centromeres, they acquire various shapes such as V, J
or I depending upon the position of centromere.
(d) Half the number of chromosomes move towards one pole and
the other half to the opposite pole.
(e) Cytokinesis begins as the cleavage furrow starts from the
periphery towards the centre in animal cells, and in plants, cell plate
appears in the centre that grows centrifugally towards periphery.
 Telophase
• (a) Chromosomes uncoil to form a chromatin
network as in the parent nucleus.
• (b) New nuclear membrane is formed around
each daughter nucleus
• (c) Nucleolus reappears again in each newly
formed daughter nucleus.
 Significance of Mitosis
• It is an educational division, and the two newly formed
daughter cells are identical in all respects. They receive the
same number and kind of chromosomes as were in the
mother cells.
• It is the only mode of reproduction in unicellular organisms.
• It is the process by which growth takes place in multicellular
animals and plants by constantly adding more and more
cells.
• It also plays a role in repair during growth, for example in
wound healing,
• regeneration of damaged parts (as in the tail of lizard), and
replacement of cells lost during normal wear and tear (as
the surface cells of the skin or the red blood cells).
• Growth by mitosis occurs in a limited or
controlled manner to the extent it is required
• in the body. But at times due to some special
cases the number of cells may increase
• abnormally which may cause Cancer.