Cell Division

Cell division is that the process by which a parent cell divides into two or more daughter cells. cellular division usually occurs as a part of a bigger cell cycle. In eukaryotes, there are two distinct sorts of cell division: a vegetative division, whereby each cell is genetically just like the parent cell (mitosis), and a germ cell division, whereby the amount of chromosomes within the daughter cells is reduced by half to supply haploid gametes (meiosis). Meiosis leads to four haploid daughter cells by undergoing one round of DNA replication followed by two divisions. Homologous chromosomes are separated within the first division, and sister chromatids are separated within the second division. Both of those cellular division cycles are utilized in the method of amphimixis at some point in their life cycle. Both are believed to be present within the last eukaryotic common ancestor. Prokaryotes (bacteria) undergo a somatic cell division referred to as binary fission, where their genetic material is segregated equally into two daughter cells. While binary fission could also be the means of division by most prokaryotes, there are alternative manners of division, like budding, that are observed. All cell divisions, no matter organism, are preceded by one round of DNA replication.