Mitosis

In biology, mitosis is the process by which a cell separates its duplicated genome into two identical halves. It is generally followed immediately by cytokinesis which divides the cytoplasm and cell membrane. This results in two identical daughter cells with a roughly equal distribution of organelles and other cellular components. Mitosis and cytokinesis together is defined as the mitotic (M) phase of the cell cycle, the division of the mother cell into two daughter cells, each the genetic equivalent of the parent cell.

Related Topics:
Biology - Genome - Cytokinesis - Cytoplasm - Cell membrane - Organelle - Cell cycle - Division

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Mitosis occurs exclusively in eukaryotic cells. In multicellular organisms, the somatic cells undergo mitosis, while germ cells - cells destined to become sperm in males or ova in females - divide by a related process called meiosis. Prokaryotic cells, which lack a nucleus, divide by a process called binary fission.

Related Topics:
Eukaryotic - Somatic - Germ cell - Sperm - Ova - Meiosis - Prokaryotic - Binary fission

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Because cytokinesis usually occurs in conjunction with mitosis, "mitosis" is often used interchangeably with "mitotic phase". However, there are many cells where mitosis and cytokinesis occur separately, forming single cells with multiple nuclei. This occurs most notably among the fungi and slime moulds, but is found in various different groups. Even in animals, cytokinesis and mitosis may occur independently, for instance during certain stages of fruit fly embryonic development.

Related Topics:
Fungi - Slime mould - Fruit fly

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