Mitosis
Biology: AQA A Level, topic 2.2.1
Cell Division
Viruses require a host cell to divide. Cells that have the ability to divide have a cell cycle. The eukaryotic cell cycle is outlined here.
The cell cycle
- Cells on the path to cell division proceed through a series of precisely timed and carefully regulated stages of growth, DNA replication, and division.
- This is called the cell cycle.
Phases of the cell cycle
- The cell cycle has two major phases: interphase and the mitotic phase.
- During interphase, the cell grows and DNA is replicated.
- During the mitotic phase, the replicated DNA and cytoplasmic contents are separated, and the cell divides.
- There are two types of cell division in eukaryotes: mitosis and meiosis.
Interphase
- Interphase is subdivided into three growth stages called G1, S and G2 stage.
- In G1, the cell grows.
- In S, DNA synthesis happens.
- In G2, the cell grows some more before the mitotic phases begins.
The mitotic phase
- Mitosis is the part of the cell cycle in which a eukaryotic cell divides to produce two daughter cells, each with the identical copies of DNA produced by the parent cell during DNA replication.
- Multicellular organisms go through mitosis to grow and repair damaged tissues.
Test yourself on Mitosis
Which of the following statements regarding the cell cycle are true?