• A cell division cycle consists of stages:

• Interphase- In this phase of the cell cycle a typical cell

spends most of its life to obtains nutrients, metabolizes,
grows, replicates its DNA in preparation for mitosis.

• G1 stage is the phase soon after cell division, and earlier

the start of DNA replication. Cells grow and monitor their
environment to control whether they should initiate
another round of cell division.
• S stage is the period of DNA synthesis, where cells replicate
their chromosomes.

• G2 stage is the phase between the end of DNA replication

and the start of cell division. Cells check to make sure DNA
replication has effectively completed, and make required
repairs.
• Karyokinesis - Karyokinesis is a step during the cell division
whereby the nucleus divides itself to form 2 daughter nuclei
1)Prophase – chromosomes condense; each chromosome
consists of a couple of identical fellow chromatids joined at the
centromere.
2)Metaphase – chromosomes line up at the middle of the cell,
along the plane of cell division, pushed and pulled by
microtubules of the spindle apparatus.
3)Anaphase – fellow chromatids separate and travel towards
reverse ends of the cell.
4)Telophase – chromatids cluster at reverse ends of the cell and
start to decondense.
• Cytokinesis – The membrane squeezes and break in to the
two daughter cells.
Meiosis
• This is a special sequence of 2 cell divisions that produces
haploid gametes from diploid germline cells.
• It starts with a diploid cell that has undergone
chromosomal DNA replication: 2N chromosomes, 4X DNA
content.
• Two successive divisions, with no additional DNA
replication, results in 4 haploid gametes: 1N chromosomes,
1X DNA content.
• This is the process of cell division that occurs in the
formation of reproductive cells (gametes — the ova and
spermatozoa).
• The ova grow to maturity in the ovaries of the female and
the spermatozoa in the testes of the male.
• In meiosis four daughter cells are formed after two
divisions.
• During meiosis the pairs of chromosomes separate and one
from each pair moves to opposite poles of the 'parent' cell.
• When it divides, each of the 'daughter' cells has only 23
chromosomes, called the haploid number.
• This means that when the ovum is fertilized the resulting
zygote has the full complement of 46 chromosomes (the
diploid number).
• Half from the father and half from the mother.
• Thus, the child has some features genetic from the mother
and some from the father, such as colour of hair and eyes,
tallness, facial features, and some hereditary disease.
• Determination of sex depends upon one particular pair of
chromosomes: the sex chromosomes.
• In the female both sex chromosomes are the same size and
shape and are called X chromosomes.
• In the male there is one X chromosome and a slightly
smaller Y chromosome.
• In the female both sex chromosomes are the same size and
shape and are called X chromosomes.
• In the male there is one X chromosome and a slightly
smaller Y chromosome.
• When the ovum is fertilized by an X-bearing spermatozoon
the child is female and when it is fertilized by a Y-bearing
spermatozoon the child is male.

• Sperm X + ovum X —> child XX = female

• Sperm Y + ovum X —> child XY = male