CELL DIVISION

© 2006 Mesoblast Limited www.mesoblast.com

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
Cell division is a fundamental process
 All cells come from pre-existing cells
 It is necessary to replace worn out cells in
multicellular organisms
 It is required for growth in multicellular organisms
 An increase in size will require an increase in surface area
to volume ration
 Cell division subdivides the cytoplasm into small units
(cells) surrounded by plasma membranes
 It is necessary for reproduction in unicellular or
multicellular organisms

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Cell division and reproduction
 It is necessary for
reproduction in
unicellular or
multicellular
organisms

Microbus
© Microscope-Microscope.org

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Prokaryotes
 Prokaryotes have
no nucleus
 They have a single
circular chromosome
 Prokaryotes simply
divide their cells in
two by binary
fission

http://instruct1.cit.cornell.edu/
© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS
Eukaryotes
 Eukaryotes must divide their nucleus (and
other organelles such as mitochondria) in
preparation for cell division (mitosis or
meiosis)
 Before the nucleus divides the genetic
material replicates (duplicates)

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Mitosis
 Mitotic division
results in genetically
identical eukaryotic
cells (a clone)
 Mitosis is the basis of
asexual
reproduction © Tyler Junior College, (no
commercial use allowed - contact
bott@tjc.edu for permission to use)

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

Meiosis
 Meiosis results in a halving of the
chromosome number in preparation for
fertilisation
 Meiosis shuffles genes in new combinations
 Meiosis results in genetically different cells
 Meiosis and fertilisation are the basis of
sexual reproduction

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

COMPARING MITOSIS AND
MEIOSIS

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS

COMPARING MITOSIS AND
MEIOSIS

© 2007 Paul Billiet ODWS