5.1.4

Role of Mitosis

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The Significance of Mitosis in Life Cycles

Mitosis is a vital process to nearly every living organism. Bacteria and other unicellular organisms largely rely on mitosis for reproduction, while multicellular organisms need mitosis in order to grow and repair tissues.

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Asexual reproduction

  • Single celled organisms reproduce via mitosis as cellular and organismal levels of organisation are the same for them, cell division represents reproduction of entire organisms.
  • Mitosis produces identical cells, so reproduction via this method produces clonal organisms. This means entire colonies of bacteria are likely to be identical to each other.
  • This form of reproduction is known as asexual as there is no meiosis and shuffling of genes.
  • Asexual reproduction only requires one parent cell, allowing single celled organisms to increase population rapidly.
  • Mitosis introduces no genetic variation into populations so bacteria rely on alternative methods, such as horizontal gene transfer of plasmids for variation.
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Growth

  • Multicellular organisms must grow through increasing their cell count.
  • Mitosis is vital as it allows somatic (body) cells to reproduce and form clones that can perform the exact same function within the body as parent cells.
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Tissue repair

  • When damaged or injured, an organism can replace the lost cells via mitosis.
  • Structures such as skin and bones can be reconstructed with new cells produced from mitosis, while lost fluids such as blood can be replenished in this way too.
  • Some organisms such as axolotls are able to replace entire limbs and tails via mitosis.

Jump to other topics

1Cell Structure

2Biological Molecules

3Enzymes

4Cell Membranes & Transport

5The Mitotic Cell Cycle

6Nucleic Acids & Protein Synthesis

7Transport in Plants

8Transport in Mammals

9Gas Exchange

10Infectious Diseases

11Immunity

12Energy & Respiration (A2 Only)

13Photosynthesis (A2 Only)

14Homeostasis (A2 Only)

15Control & Coordination (A2 Only)

16Inherited Change (A2 Only)

17Selection & Evolution (A2 Only)

18Classification & Conservation (A2 Only)

19Genetic Technology (A2 Only)

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