CELL REPRODUCTION

Cell division is the process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells. Cell division is usually a small segment of a larger cell cycle. This type of cell division in eukaryotes is known as mitosis, and leaves the daughter cell capable of dividing again. The corresponding sort of cell division in prokaryotes is known as binary fission. In another type of cell division present only in eukaryotes, called meiosis, a cell is permanently transformed into a gamete and may not divide again until fertilization. Cell cycle includes (i) Interphase ( ii) Mitotic phase INTERPHASE: Longest phase of cell cycle. Large size nucleus is observed. Also k/a preparation phase. Morphologically resting phase but metabolically most active phase. Remember that interphase is not part of mitosis Subphases: a) G1 phase: formation of Ribosome and rRNA. Formation of structural and functional protein. b) S phase: Replication of DNA and synthesis of histone protein. c) G2 phase: premitotic, Energy storage takes place. Duplication of centriole, formation of cell organelles.

MITOTIC PHASE: k/a Dividing phase. Include karyokinesis and cytokinesis. Cytokinesis by cell plate formation in plants and by constriction/ furrowing in animals. Cell cycle is restricted or undergoes differentiation or becomes permanent or retain Go phase. Types of Cell Division: a) Amitosis: Discovered by Robert Remach. It is unequal cell division. Division completes without forming spindle fibres. Common in prokaryotes. e.g: budding, fission. b) Mitosis: Also k/a D-phase/ Division phase. Discovered by flemming in animal i.e. Salamander (Tritus maculosa) and Strasburger in plant. It is equational division. So the offspring (i.e. daughter cells) are exact to parent cell. Mitosis mainly refers to division of Nucleus (Karyokinesis) and has continuous 4 phase: Mitosis is common in somatic cells. It takes place in haploid, diploid, polyploidy, Astral mitosis common in animal (division in presence of centrioles) Anastral mitosis common in plants. On the basis of DNA content, mitosis is reductional division and on the basis of chromosome content, mitosis is equational division. Best material to study mitosis: Root tip region

Different phases of Karyokinesis: 1) Prophase: Chromosome has two filaments k/a chromatids. Sister chromatid/ Indentical chromatids attached to a point k/a centromere or kinetochore. Nucleolus disintegrates in nucleoplasm and nuclear membrane disappears with mixing of cytoplasm + nucleoplasm, resulting to form spindle fibre at late prophase.

2) Metaphase: Chromosome moves to imaginary line perpendicular to arrangement of spindle fibres arranged in one line. Remember that the chromosomes are still duplicated chromosomes during metaphase. Note: Colchicines inhibits spindle formation and blocks metaphase stage of cell division.

3) Anaphase: Chromatids are separated due to splitting of centromere. Sister Chromosomes move toward opposite poles. When the chromosomes reach the end of the spindles the telophase begins.

4) Telophase: Simply its opposite to prophase. Chromosome aggregate at poles; spindle fibre disintegrates; nuclear membrane developed from E.R. sometimes the chromosomes fail to divide as well.

Significance of mitosis: i) Helps to replace old cell, organ formation. ii) Maintains genetic contribution qualitatively and quantitatively in two daughter offspring as that of parents.