The Cell Cycle and its different Phases

There are two different types of cell division in higher living organisms such as
vertebrates, The first type is mitosis and the second type is meiosis, Mitosis is the normal
process of somatic or body cell division from the cleavage stage up to the death of an
organism, On the other hand, Meiosis is a special type of cell division that gives rise to
the sperm and the egg; hence, not a cell cycle in itself, table 1 gives a summary of their
differences.
Table 1. Summary of the difference between mitosis and meiosis.

MITOSIS MEIOSIS
Takes place in body/somatic cells Takes place in germinal/sex cells
Only one cell division Two cell divisions
Produces two genetically identical Produces four cells that are
daughter cells genetically different
Diploid (2N) cells are products Haploid (1N) cells are products
Synapses are absent on the Synapses are absent on the
chromatids of homologous chromatids of homologous
chromosomes chromosomes
Relevant mechanism of tissue repair
Necessary for the production of
and replacement of dead or damaged
gametes
cells
The resulting chromosome number of mitosis is diploid (two copies) while meiosis
is haploid (one copy). Regarding the number of cells (s) produced at the end of the
process, mitosis produces only two (2) while meiosis produces four (4), Based on the
genetic composition, the cell products of mitosis are genetically identical while the
products of meiosis are genetically different.

The cell cycle is continuous cell growth and division. It is composed of many repetitions
of cellular growth and reproduction and is generally divided into two major
phases: interphase and mitosis.

The interphase has three phases: G1, S, and G2. Cells of the body that no longer
divide are always in interphase. It is a period of growth and development.

The mitotic phase has four phases: prophase, metaphase,

anaphase, and telophase.

Mitosis is the process in which a new cell nucleus divides into two new nuclei. Each
nucleus has the same number of chromosomes (structures in the nucleus that contain
DNA as the parent cell. Mitosis is responsible for the growth, replacement of worn-
out cells, and repair.
Table 2. Summarizes the mitosis.
CELL CYCLE PHASES EVENTS
The cell synthesizes its structural proteins and
G1
enzymes. Example: pancreas-insulin
INTERPHASE DNA within the nucleus replicates, 2 DNA
S phase
molecules form in each chromosome.
G2 Cell prepares to divide, spindle fibers form
Formation of visible threads of chromosomes,
with each strand called chromatid, chromatids
Prophase become visible in pairs, nuclear membrane
disappears and spindle fibers form and
chromatids attach to it.
The chromosomes move and align themselves
along the equatorial plane, DNA has duplicated
Metaphase
and the chromatids become completely
MITOSIS separated.
The chromosomes, each attached to a spindle
Anaphase fiber move towards the opposite poles of the
cell.
The chromosomes finally arrived at the opposite
poles of the cell. Begin to fade as chromatin is
Telophase formed again, spindle fibers disappear; nuclei
reappear and the nuclear membrane is
reformed around its membrane

The Different Stages of Meiosis

Cytokinesis is the division of the cytoplasm to form two separate cells. In animal
cells, cytokinesis begins with the formation of a furrow at the center of the cell, deepens
until the two halves of the cell separate in a process called cell cleavage.

Another type of cell division designed to produce gametes or sex cells is known
as meiosis. It has two distinct phases: Meiosis 1 and meiosis 2, wherein no DNA
replication happened as the second phase commences. The stage between the end and
the beginning of two phases is called Interkinesis.
The table below summarizes the Meiosis.

MEIOSIS 1 PHASES EVENTS

Similar to prophase in mitosis and is longer.
Homologous chromosomes undergo pairing
or synapsis, they contract, twist around
each other, and become visibly
double. Crossing over or exchange of
chromatid segments takes place that may
Prophase I bring about evolution because the
chromatids are genetically different from the
original four chromatids.

The nuclear membrane disappears and the

spindle is formed between the centrioles in
the opposite poles.
The paired chromosomes align on the
equatorial plate with their centromeres
Metaphase I
attached to the spindle fibers. One
centromere per spindle fiber.
Homologous chromosomes of each pair
Anaphase I separate and move to their respective
poles.
Each pole has a haploid number of
Telophase I
chromosomes, the nucleus reorganize,
 chromosomes become chromatin and
cytoplasmic division occurs then each
daughter chromosomes enters interphase.
There is no DNA duplication, maybe brief or
INTERKINESIS very long depending on the species, or may
enter directly to the second meiotic division.
Similar to the prophase of mitosis, centrioles
MEIOSIS II Prophase II divide, chromatin condenses and the
nuclear membrane disappears.
Haploid chromosomes arranged in bundles
Metaphase II of chromatids gather at the center before
separation.
Chromatids of each chromosome separate
and moves towards the poles. In humans,
Anaphase II the forty-six chromosomes separate from
one another, then the spindle fiber move the
chromosomes to opposite poles of the cell.
Chromosomes gather at the poles, become
indistinct and reform to a mass of chromatin,
nucleoli reappear, nuclear membrane
Telophase II develops, the cytosome divides and other
cell parts reestablished, then four
daughter cells are formed, each with a
haploid number of chromosomes.

Let us now have a comparison between mitosis (happen in body cells) and meiosis
(happen in sex cells) based on the phases.

PHASES MITOSIS MEIOSIS

Chromosomes undergo
coiling and there are two Homologous chromosomes
Prophase
chromatids in the pair
chromosome
Chromosomes arranged on Paired chromosomes arranged
Metaphase
a spindle on a spindle
(1st division) homologous
chromosomes separate,
Anaphase Centromeres divide
centromeres do not split, each
has haploid chromosomes
(2nd division) centromeres split,
Each daughter cell retains a sister chromatids separate and
Telophase diploid number of each of the four daughter cells
chromosomes has a haploid number of
chromosomes