Cell division

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 Cell division
• Process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter
cells
• Required to replace the cell loss, repair tissue damage and
reproduce the organism
• Two types of cell divisions occur in eukaryotic cells – mitosis and
meiosis
• Mitosis:
• Two genetically identical daughter cells are produced from the
original cell
• These cells used to replace the dead cells or repair a damaged
tissue
• Meiosis:
• Four genetically non-identical daughter cells are produced
• These cells are involved in duplication of the organism
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 Mitosis
• Occurs in most cells of the body
• Results in two daughter cells which contain
same number of chromosomes as in parent
cell
• Divided into 4 phases
• Prophase
• Metaphase
• Anaphase
• Telophase

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 Interphase
• Cell remains in interphase
for most of its life cycle
• Is the gap between 2 cell
divisions
• Cell prepares itself for cell
division by
– Obtaining nutrients
– Growing in size
– By copying its DNA
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 Prophase
• Chromosomes begin to coil, become
thick and short
• Each chromosome contains 2
chromatids (sister chromatids) joined
at the centromere
• Centrioles separate and move to the
opposite poles of the cell
• Parallely running microtubules (spindle
fibres) formed and extend between 2
centrioles – spindle formation
• Nucleolus disappears
• Nuclear envelop disappears and
chromosomes are released to
cytoplasm

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 Metaphase
• As the nuclear membrane
disappears the spindle
occupies the central region of
cell
• Chromosomes move toward
the equator of the spindle and
arrange themselves in a line –
metaphase plate
• Microtubules (spindle fibres)
attached to centromeres of
chromosomes
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 Anaphase
• Centromeres divide and
sister chromatids separate
into individual chromosomes
• Spindle fibers contract, the
chromosomes are pulled to
opposite poles of the cell
• Cleavage furrow is formed at
the equator of the cell by in
folding of the cell membrane

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 Telophase
• Chromosomes gather at
opposite ends of the cell
and nuclear membrane is
reformed around them
• The spindle disintegrates
• New centrioles are formed
• Cleavage furrow becomes
deep and divides the cell
into two (cytokinesis)
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 Meiosis
• Special type of cell division which
occurs in testes and ovary during
the production of sperms and
ovum
• Two divisions occur in quick
succession (meiosis I and meiosis
II)
• Four daughter cells produced at
the end of 2 divisions
• Each daughter cell contains half
the number (haploid) of parent cell
chromosomes
• Exchange of genetic material
takes place between
chromosomes during division
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 Meiosis I
• Interphase is the phase before meiosis I
• During interphase -
– Replication (duplication) of DNA takes place
• Meiosis I has 4 phases -
– Prophase I
– Metaphase I
– Anaphase I
– Telophase I

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 Prophase I
• Long and complex phase, divided into 5
sub stages
• Leptotene
• Zygotene
• Pachytene
• Diplotene
• Diakinesis

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• Leptotene:
• Chromosomes appear as individual
threads
• Attached at one end to the nuclear
envelope
• Chromosomes show beads
(chromomeres) throughout their
length
• Zygotene:
• Chromosomes come together side
by side and form homologous pairs
• Homologous chromosomes pair
point to point and called bivalents
• These are held together by a fibrillar
band called synaptonemal complex

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• Pachytene:
• Shortening and thickening of
chromosomes continue
• Two chromatids of a
chromosome become visible
• Four chromatids of 2
chromosomes are called
tetrad
• Chromatids from 2
chromosomes coil around
each other
• Exchange of DNA occurs by
breaking and rejoining of
chromatids
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• Diplotene:
• Chromosomes become short and thick
• Begin to separate except where the crossing
over has occurred
• As the chromosomes become short, the crossing
points become visible and they are called -
chiasmata
• Diakinesis:
• Chiasmata disappear
• Chromosomes become short, thick and get
separated, but homologous chromosomes lie
together
• During phrophase I –
– The centrioles move to the opposite poles of the cell
– Spindle formation take place between centrioles
– Nuclear envelope disappears and homologous
chromosomes are released to cytoplasm

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 Metaphase I
• As the nuclear membrane
disappears the spindle
occupies the central region
of cell
• Paired homologous
chromosomes move toward
the equator of the spindle
and arrange themselves in
a line – metaphase plate
• Microtubules attached to
centromeres of paired
chromosomes

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 Anaphase I
• Spindle fibers
contract, the paired,
homologous
chromosomes are
pulled to opposite
poles of the cell
• Cleavage furrow is
formed at the equator
of the cell by in
folding of the cell
membrane
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 Telophase I
• Chromosomes gather at opposite ends of the cell
and nuclear membrane is reformed around them
• The spindle disintegrates
• New centrioles are formed
• Cleavage furrow becomes deep and divides the
cell into two
• Each cell has 23 chromosomes
• Each chromosome is with 2 sister chromatids
• Each cell has haploid number of chromosomes but
with diploid amount of DNA

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 Meiosis II
• No interphase before meiosis II
• Begins after a short interval
• During this break, the DNA duplication will not occur
• Has 4 phases
• Prophase II
• Metaphase II
• Anaphase II
• Telophase II

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 Meiosis II
• All the phases of meiosis II are similar to that of
mitosis
• During prophase II
• centrioles move to opposite poles
• spindle formation takes place
• nuclear envelope disappears and 23 chromosomes
(each with 2 sister chromatids) released to
cytoplasm
• During metaphase II:
• all 23 chromosomes arrange in a line at the equator
• microtubules (spindle fibres) attached to
centromeres of chromosomes

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 Meiosis II
• During anaphase II:
• centromeres split, sister chromatids are pulled to the
opposite poles by the spindle fibres
• cleavage furrow is formed at the equator of the cell
by infolding of the cell membrane
• During telophase II:
• 23 chromosomes gather at opposite ends of the cell
and nuclear membrane is reformed around them
• spindle disintegrates and new centrioles are formed
• cleavage furrow becomes deep and divides the cell
into two

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