New cells are created from existing cells through a process called the cell cycle. During this process, a cell makes a copy of itself and forms two new cells. This process is essential for life, allowing organisms to grow, repair damaged tissues, and reproduce.
There are two main types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis. Most of the time, when people refer to "cell division," they mean mitosis, which is the process of making new body cells. Meiosis is the type of cell division that creates egg and sperm cells.
Mitosis is a fundamental process for life. It ensures that each new cell receives a complete set of chromosomes, the structures that carry genetic information. This process allows organisms to grow and repair damaged tissues.
Meiosis is a special type of cell division that occurs only in reproductive cells. It reduces the number of chromosomes in a cell by half, creating gametes (sperm and egg cells) with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This ensures that when fertilization occurs, the offspring receives a complete set of chromosomes from both parents.
In addition to these natural processes, scientists are exploring new ways to create cells in the laboratory. Stem cells, which are undifferentiated cells with the potential to develop into different cell types, are being used to create cells for research and therapy.
For example, researchers are developing CAR T-cell therapies to treat cancer by collecting T cells from a patient and re-engineering them in the lab.
Scientists are also creating new cell types from skin-derived stem cells, which can be coaxed to form new neural connections, offering potential for treatments for eye diseases.
