Mitosis Facts: Explore Different Phases Of The Cell Cycle
Gallery
Mitosis and meiosis are cell division processes that are essential for life.
Almost all cells in multicellular organisms undergo cell division. A growing organism like the embryo uses this process of cell division to grow, while mature organisms use cell division to repair body tissues.
This cell cycle of growth, division, and death is followed by all organisms through different processes. Mitosis is a type of cell division in which the mother cell divides into two new cells by replicating chromosomes. This was first discovered by Walther Flemming. Soon after that, in the year 1876, Oscar Hertwig, a German biologist discovered meiosis.
While mitosis happens in most areas of the body, meiosis is responsible for creating germ cells or sex cells only. In addition to growth, mitosis also helps in replacing worn-out cells in the human body. Did you know that before the actual discovery of cell division, scientists believed that cells were generated spontaneously from available food?
Let's understand what happens in mitosis in the cell cycle. Before mitosis, the mother cell creates an identical set of DNA through a process called cytokinesis.
Cytokinesis divides the living substance, organelles, and cytomembrane of one cell into two new cells having abruptly equal portions of those cellular parts. This process is very crucial. Various stages of mitosis altogether outline the mitotic (M) section of the cell cycle which is the division of the cell into female offspring cells, genetically similar to one another.
The Discovery Of Mitosis
The process of cell division began with the origin of life on earth. However, the discovery of this phenomenon is very recent. Several descriptions of cellular division emerged in the 18th and 19th centuries. But the first-ever cell division was observed in Cladophora by Victor Mohl.
Butschli, Schneider, and Fol said that they were the first to discover the process of mitosis. Otto Butschli, a Germanic biologist who worked on nematodes, published information from his examinations in 1873. Some years later, he came across some data concerning cellular division that confirmed his first conclusions about the process.
Walter Flemming is credited with coining the term 'mitosis.' Schleicher introduced the name 'karyokinesis' to describe this phenomenon. The term 'equational division' was given by August Weismann. Many authors, however, use the term 'mitosis' in a broader sense to facilitate better comprehension of the process. Meiosis, on the other hand, is not referred to as equational division.
Stages Of Mitosis
The mitotic phase involves five phases:
Prophase is the first stage of mitosis, throughout which the chromosomes and other nuclear contents start to condense into a thicker mass. But before this, there is a preprophase stage in which a preprophase band is formed beneath the plasma membrane. This band marks the site where the cell wall of daughter cells would form.
Once the site of division is marked, the two copies generated begin to separate to create two new daughter cells. Mostly in all species, the cohesins (chromosome-associated multisubunit protein complexes) are far from the sister strands throughout prophase.
This enables the sister chromatids to straighten out. Also, throughout this phase, the spindle fibers move away to opposite poles, the two sets of centrosome move, and microtubules start to copolymerize out of the replicated centrosomes.
Prometaphase starts with the speedy dissolution of the particular nuclear membrane into several little vesicles that may further be divided between the longer-term female offspring cell. The dissolution of the nuclear membrane becomes a necessity to move for spindle arrangement.
Due to this dissolution, centrosomes move further away from the nucleus. The microtubules formed cannot attach to the chromosome until the whole nuclear membrane is completely dissolved.
Metaphase: chromosomes enter the stage when the morphology of chromosomes can be best understood. Here, chromosomes arrange on an equatorial plane.
Due to the clear morphology of chromosomes at metaphase, most of the genetic analyses are conducted at this phase. Moreover, cells may be inactive at metaphase in the presence of mitotic poisons like colchicine.
Research depicts chromosomes quickly stopping to move throughout metaphase. A fancy stop mechanism regulates whether or not the spindle is correctly assembled, and only the cells with the correct arrangement of spindles enter the anaphase.
Anaphase: the beginning of anaphase can be marked through the sudden separation of sister filament, which was previously attached at the centromere. The separate enzyme is responsible for this separation. It is also due to the loss of cohesion molecules.
Two separate categories of developments occur throughout the phase of cell division. Throughout the primary part of this phase of cell division, complex body part tubules shorten, and therefore these same chromosomes are moving closer to the spindle poles.
In the second part of the phase of cell division, the spindle ends separately because the polar microtubules move away from one another. Motor enzymes that link up microtubules to opposite signs are thought to be responsible for these latter movements.
Telophase and organic process: The end of mitosis is with telophase. During this phase, chromosomes move to opposite ends, after which the nuclear pore and nuclear envelope reappear.
Telophase is led by an organic process or the distribution of living substances into two female offspring cells. Female offspring cells that take birth from this method have similar genetic structures and are thus similar to the parent cell.
Mitosis Vs. Meiosis
Cells divide and reproduce in two ways, one that leads to the formation of two female cells, and the other forms four sex cells. These are mitosis and meiosis cell cycles, respectively.
The former is also known as equational cell division, as it does not cause a reduction in chromosome number in the offspring. The existing daughter cell is similar to a parent cell, and each possesses a complete set of chromosomes.
Mitosis involves one cell division and results in two female offspring cells. They are diploid (paired chromosomes), which means that they have two n chromosomes in their cells.
Daughter cells are genetically identical and occur in many organisms, except viruses. The process creates all body cells that are somatic cells, except germ cells. Prophase is way shorter, no recombination or crossing over happens in prophase.
Meiosis involves two consecutive cell divisions that result in the formation of four female offspring cells. The cells are haploid, which means that they have n chromosomes in their cells. Here, the chromosome range is halved from the parent cell.
Daughter cells are genetically dissimilar from the parent cell. It occurs solely in animals, plants, and fungi. It also creates germ cells (eggs and sperm).
In meiosis, prophase takes much longer as it involves recombination, also known as crossing over of chromosomes. In metaphase one, pairs of chromosomes line up on the equator. During anaphase of cell division one, sister chromatids move along to identical poles, and in telophase of cell division two, these sister chromatids square measure separated to opposite poles.
Plant Cells Vs. Animal Cells
Plant cells as well as animal cells both undergo cell division to grow. However, the process of cell division is very different in both. In plants, the process of cytokinesis involves the formation of a cell plate but this does not happen in animals.
The most significant difference between animal cell division and plant cell division is that the mitotic spindle in animals is formed with the assistance of two centrioles, but in plant cell division, the mitotic spindle is formed without the assistance of centrioles at all.
In animal cell division, with each cell replication process, the nucleus is also divided, which implies that nuclear division happens throughout cell division. The cell spends time in interphase before starting mitotic division.
Prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase are the four primary stages of animal cell division. The body material inside of the nucleus gets condensed to chromosomes during prophase.
Each person's body contains two sister strands, which are formed by DNA replication. The mitotic spindle is formed by microtubules, which are responsible for retaining the original cell shape. As a result, the cell takes on a spherical shape.
Centrioles, which are found in each pole, complete the organization of microtubules into the mitotic spindle. In prometaphase, the nuclear envelope begins to break down.
Plant cell division may be a component of cellular duplication, in which double chromosomes are separated into daughter cells. It occurs in four phases, similar to animal cell division.
The bodily material is compacted into two chromatids during prophase. Plants' mitotic spindle formation is a unique kind of mitotic spindle creation. Microtubule organization centers, such as centrioles and spindle pole bodies, do not exist in plants.
As a result, microtubules form the mitotic spindle, which is an organelle near a nuclear envelope. Telophase, metaphase, and anaphase happen in the same way as they do in mammalian cell division.
Animal, as well as plant cell division, occurs to extend the total number of cells within the body, repair the tissues of the body, and regenerate body elements. Animal and plant cell division is followed by protoplasm division.
When the shape is considered, the animal cell becomes rounded before cellular division, whereas the form of plant cells doesn't change. In animal mitosis, a particular secretion that induces cell division can't be known. However, plant cell mitosis involves such a secretion.
FAQs
What happens during mitosis?
During mitosis, two identical daughter cells are formed from the mother cell.
What type of cells are produced in mitosis?
Two genetically similar daughter cells are produced during mitosis.
What kind of cells goes through mitosis?
Somatic cells go through mitosis.
What happens if mitosis goes wrong?
If mitosis goes wrong, it can lead to genetic disorders.
How many chromosomes are in the anaphase of mitosis?
A complete set of 46 chromosomes are in the anaphase of mitosis.
We Want Your Photos!
More for You
See All
Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature
Akinwalere OlaleyeBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature
As a highly motivated, detail-oriented, and energetic individual, Olaleye's expertise lies in administrative and management operations. With extensive knowledge as an Editor and Communications Analyst, Olaleye excels in editing, writing, and media relations. Her commitment to upholding professional ethics and driving organizational growth sets her apart. She has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from the University of Benin, Edo State.
Disclaimer
1) Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! What we suggest is selected independently by the Kidadl team. If you purchase using the Buy Now button we may earn a small commission. This does not influence our choices. Prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published but we cannot guarantee that on the time of reading. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon. We also link to other websites, but are not responsible for their content.
2) At Kidadl, we strive to recommend the very best activities and events. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability. Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
3) Because we are an educational resource, we have quotes and facts about a range of historical and modern figures. We do not endorse the actions of or rhetoric of all the people included in these collections, but we think they are important for growing minds to learn about under the guidance of parents or guardians.
