Notes Of Cell Division

Cell division

Cell division is a process of multiplication of cell by its division. It is of two major types. They are mitosis and meiosis.

Mitosis

Mitosis cell division is that in which one cell divides into two diploid daughter cells. It is also called educational cell division and mitotic cell division. It causes growth.

Meiosis

Meiosis cell division is that in which one cell divides into four haploid daughter cell. It is also called reductional cell division and meiotic cell division. It forms gamete.

Mitosis Cell Division

Cytokinesis

Cytokinesis is division of cytoplasm and karyokinesis is division of nucleus.

Karyokinesis

Karyokinesis of mitosis completes in the following four main phases:

• Prophase
• Metaphase
• Anaphase
• Telophase

Prophase

In prophase, nucleolus disappears, nuclear membrane is disappearing, centrosome fibres is started between the centrosomes. At the last of this phase, chromosomes make their duplicates.

Metaphase

In metaphase, nuclear membrane disappears, formation of spindle fibre is completed, chromosomes come at equator and attach and their spindle fibres by the help of their centromeres.

Anaphase

In anaphase, centromere decomposes into two parts and chromatids. Now the chromosomes move towards opposite poles due to contraction of spindle fibres towards the poles.

Telophase

Telophase, chromosomes reach at poles and form two daughter nuclei, the cell is rehydrated, finally the cell goes for cytokinesis and one cell divides into two diploid daughter cells.

Significance of mitosis

Significance of mitosis cell division are as the followings:

• Helps in growth
• Does asexual reproduction
• placement of cell and regeneration
• Mainttaindgenetic stability 

Meiosis Cell Division

  Karyokinesis

   Karyokinesis of meiosis cell division complete in 8 phases. They are-

• Meiotic first division
• Prophase I
• Metaphase I
• Anaphase I
• Telophase I
• Meiotic second division
• Prophase II
• Metaphase II
• Anaphase II
• Telophase II

Prophase I

Prophase I of meiosis completes in five sub-phases. The changes that take place in the nucleus of cells in these sub-phases are mentioned below:

• Leptotene [Thread stage]: Chromatin divides in particular number of chromosomes. The chromosomes are so thin that chromosomes are seen in the form of beads.

• Zygotene [Paring stage] : Homologus pairs or bivalents are formed. The process of forming the pairs is called synapsis.

• Pachytene [Thickening stage] : Chromosomes shorten and form tetrads. Crossing over between non-sister chromatids is started.

• Diplotene [Duplication stage]: Crossing over is completed. The two homologous chromosomes tend to separate from each other but both remain attached at chiasmata.

• Diakinesis [Moving apart stage] : Overlapped chromo;somes move away from each other.

Significance of meiosis is as the following:

• It forms gametes for sexual reproduction.
• It causes variation, which is the main unit of evolution. Variation is caused by crossing over.
• It helps to make chromosomes’ number constant.

Chiasmata

Chiasmata are the points at which paired homologous chromosomes remain in contact during the prophase I of meiosis cell division.

Homologous chromosomes

Homologous chromosomes or bivalents are the pairs of identical chromosomes formed in the beginning of meiosis. One member of each pair comes from the female parent and other from the male.

Synapsis

Synapsis is the process of pairing chromosomes in the first phase of meiosis in order to make homologous pairs.

Crossing over

Crossing over is defined as an exchange of portions of chromatids between homologous chromosomes.

Chromatids

Chromatids are the thread like strands formed from a chromosome during the early stages of cell division. Each chromosome divides along its length into two chromatids, which are held together at the centromere and separate completely at a later stage.

Chromosomes

Chromosomes are the thread like structures, which are found in the nucleus of plant and animal cells (eukaryotic cells). They are made of protein and nucleic acid.

Tetrads

Tetrads are the paired chromosomes in meiosis, after each chromosome has duplicated itself, and the pair is visibly four stranded