Cell Division

The biological process in which a parent cell divides into two or four daughter cells is called cell division. It consists of nuclear division and cytoplasmic division called cytokinesis.

Nucleus carries the hereditary character of the cell. So the nuclear division is the main stage of cell division

Necessity of Cell Division:

Cell division is necessary for the following reasons:

• Reproduction in the living organisms.
• Growth and development of any living organisms.
• Healing of wounds, formation of skin cells, blood cells and replacement of old and dead cells from the body.
• Hereditary characteristics, genetic variations, and its stability.

Types of Cell Division:

There are two types of cell division:

Direct cell division: A simple cell division in which two daughter cells are formed from a cell without the formation of chromosomes.

Indirect cell division: The cell division in which the mother cell divides into two daughter cells each having the same equal number of chromosomes as present in the mother cell is known as mitosis cell division. It takes place in somatic cells, so, it is also known as somatic cell division. This cell division is commonly found in asexual reproduction

Mitosis cell division

It is divided into four stages:

1. Prophase
2. Metaphase
3. Anaphase
4. Telophase

Meiosis cell division

The double division that gives each cell having half number of chromosomes compared to the parent cell. Meiosis cell division occurs in two stages:

1. Meiotic I
2. Meiotic II