Cell Division

What is growth?
•Characteristic of all living things
•Permanent increase in size
•Accompanied by cell division and differentiation to form tissues and
organs
•In plants growth occurs in the tips of roots and shoots known as
growing points.
•In multicellular organisms growth requires cell division
• Mitosis
Mitosis
•Nuclear division
•Daughter nuclei contains the same number of chromosome
as the parent nuclei
•Daughter nuclei are genetically identical to each other and
the parent
Chromosomes: Rod like structure present in the nucleus during cell division. Made up of DNA.

DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid that carries all the hereditary information for making an organism.

GENES: A small segment od DNA in the chromosome that controls a particular characteristic or protein in an
organism.
Why is it important to produce genetically
identical daughter cells?
•Ensure daughter cells contain all the sections of DNA required for subsequent
cell division and differentiation.
•Normal development of embryo. Any error can affect how the cells function and
abnormal development of embryo.
•Changes in gene during DNA replication can cause abnormal proteins to be
informed which are rejected by the body’s immune system.
•Mistakes in DNA replication can cause uncontrolled cell division - CANCER
Importance of mitosis
•Growth
•Repair of worn out body parts
•Asexual Reproduction
Gametes
•Reproductive cells
•Half the number of chromosomes as normal body cells
•Formed by reduction division – Meiosis
•Male gamete- sperm
•Female gamete- egg
How do gametes differ from normal
body cells?
•Normal body cells contains diploid number of chromosomes (2n)
•Gametes contain haploid number of chromosomes (n)
•Diploid number- 46
•Haploid number - 23
Why are gametes produced?
To restore the normal diploid number of chromosomes in zygote
after fertilisation.
Meiosis
Form of nuclear division that produces daughter nuclei containing
half the number of chromosomes as parent nuclei.
Importance of meiosis
•Produces haploid gametes
•Results in variation in the gametes produced
 Differences between mitosis and meiosis
Mitosis Meiosis
Daughter cells contain the same number of chromosomes Daughter cells contain half the number of chromosomes as
as parent cell parent cells

Daughter cells are genetically identical to the parent cell Daughter cells are not genetically identical to the parent
cell

Two daughter cells are produced from one parent cell 4 daughter cells are produced from one parent cell

Involves one nuclear division Involves two nuclear division

Occurs in normal body cells during growth and repair of Occurs in gonads during gamete formation
body parts