Chapter 10 — Cell Cycle and Cell Division

Cell Cycle and Cell Division covers how cells divide through mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis produces identical diploid daughter cells for growth and repair, while meiosis creates four haploid gametes for sexual reproduction.

This chapter explains the cell cycle's two main phases: interphase (G1, S, G2) where the cell prepares for division through DNA replication and growth, and M phase (mitosis) where actual cell division occurs. Mitosis includes prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis to separate the cytoplasm. Meiosis, a specialized division for gamete formation, involves two sequential divisions (meiosis I and II), producing four haploid daughter cells with half the chromosomes and increased genetic variability.

1. 01Cell cycle consists of interphase (95% of duration) and M phase, with DNA replication occurring only during the S phase
2. 02Mitosis is equational division conserving chromosome number; includes prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis
3. 03Significance of mitosis: growth of multicellular organisms, cell repair, and continuous plant growth via meristematic tissues
4. 04Meiosis is reduction division halving chromosome number through two sequential divisions with crossing over and genetic recombination
5. 05Meiosis I features synapsis of homologous chromosomes, bivalent formation, and crossing over between non-sister chromatids
6. 06Four haploid daughter cells result from meiosis II; meiosis maintains species chromosome number and increases genetic variability