It is the smallest unit that contains all living beings; our body is composed of billions of them. 1 Like all living things, they perform vital functions: they are born; they are feed to grow and carry out their functions; such as reproduction and death. 2 They contain hereditary material and can make copies of themselves hrough two processes called mitosis and meiosis. 3 Cell
Cell Division It is a fundamental process to create life, occurring in all forms of it, ensuring the perpetuity of their existence, as well as growth, tissue replacement, and reproduction in multicellular organisms. It is known as cell reproduction or cell division, is the stage in the cell cycle where each cell divides to form two daughter cells. There are three biological mechanisms of cell reproduction: binary fission, meiosis, and mitosis.
Binary fission Meiosis Mitosis Cell Division
It is the most common form of cell division in somatic eukaryotic cells (those that will not become sex cells). 1 2 When mitosis is completed, two genetically identical cells are produced. It is a fundamental process during growth and tissue repair. Mitosis
Mitosis
Interphase A cell divides into two daughter cells that can then divide again, creating a cycle of cell division. The period between two consecutive mitoses is called interphase. As the cell prepares for reproduction, it duplicates its DNA and takes the necessary internal and external measures to successfully undergo the process. Centrosome Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
Centrosome Microtubules Chromosomes Prophase Chromatin undergoes progressive condensation due to supercoiling, resulting in the formation of chromosomes. The nuclear envelope starts to break down, gradually dissolving. The centrosome duplicates, and each one moves to one of the cell's ends, where microtubules are formed.
Centrosome Microtubules Chromosome Metaphase The chromosomes align at the cell's equator during metaphase, with the fibers of the mitotic spindle. Each chromosome has already duplicated during interphase, so at this point, the two copies separate. Centromere Microtubules attach to each centromere of the chromosomes.
Centrosome Microtubules Chromosome Anaphase It is the crucial phase of mitosis because it is when the distribution of the original genetic information occurs. The two groups of chromosomes (which are identical) move apart thanks to the microtubules toward opposite poles of the cell. Each set of genetic information concentrates around a centrosome.
Centrosome Microtubules Telophase The microtubules that aided in the migration of the two groups of chromosomes disappear. Two new nuclear envelopes begin to form, each containing the information for each new cell. The chromosomes start to decondense, exposing the DNA and initiating the processes characteristic of an independent cell. Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
Cytokinesis It involves the physical separation of the cytoplasm. A contractile ring composed of actin and myosin microfilaments forms, constricting the cell and creating a structure resembling an hourglass. A cleavage furrow forms, ultimately separating the two daughter cells, each with the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. Contractile ring