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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Genome: In biology the genome of an organism is the whole hereditary information of an organism that is encoded in the DNA (or, for some viruses, RNA). This includes both the genes and the non-coding sequences. The term was first coined, in 1920, by Hans Winkler, Professor of Botany at the University of Ham...

Cytokinesis: Cytokinesis refers to the division of a eukaryotic cell. Cytokinesis usually occurs after a cell has undergone nuclear division as part of mitosis or meiosis. Except for some special cases, the amount of cytoplasm and number of organelles and cellular components in each daughter cell is redistri...

Cytoplasm: Cytoplasm is a homogeneous, generally clear jelly-like material that fills cells. The cytoplasm consists of cytosol and the cellular organelles, except the nucleus. The cytosol is made up of water, salts and organic molecules and many enzymes that catalyze reactions. The cytoplasm plays an importan...

Mitosis related Images and Photos (experimental)

Mitosis