Cells reproduce through a process called cell division. This fundamental biological process allows organisms to grow, repair tissues, and create new generations. There are two main types of cell division:
1. Mitosis
Mitosis is a type of cell division that produces two identical daughter cells from a single parent cell. This process is crucial for growth and repair in multicellular organisms. As described in various sources (MedlinePlus Genetics, Ask A Biologist, Nature Scitable), the process involves the duplication and precise separation of the parent cell's chromosomes, ensuring each daughter cell receives a complete set. The outer membrane pinches inward until the new cells separate ([Reference from January 30, 2023]). Mitosis is asexual reproduction at the cellular level.
- Example: Skin cells constantly undergo mitosis to replace damaged or worn-out cells.
2. Meiosis
Meiosis is a specialized type of cell division that produces gametes (sex cells – sperm and egg cells). Unlike mitosis, meiosis results in four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell. This reduction in chromosome number is essential for sexual reproduction, ensuring that when gametes fuse during fertilization, the resulting zygote has the correct number of chromosomes. (MedlinePlus Genetics)
- Example: The formation of sperm in males and eggs in females involves meiosis.
While human cells can reproduce up to 50 or 60 times (Cancer Research UK), errors in this process can lead to mutations and potentially cancer (NCI, Canadian Cancer Society). Even a single remaining cancer cell can continue to divide and form a new tumor. (Canadian Cancer Society). The use of cells in vaccine production also highlights the importance of cell division, as viruses reproduce within cells. (Children's Hospital of Philadelphia). Plant cells, while utilizing the cytoskeleton like animal cells for division, do so in opposite ways (Stanford Report).
