Mitosis how many cells are produced

In the future they may be used to replace cells and tissues that have been damaged or lost due to disease. Cells are the basic building blocks of living things.

The human body is composed of trillions of cells, all with their own specialised function. DNA or deoxyribonucleic acid is a long molecule that contains our unique genetic code. Like a recipe book it holds the instructions for making all the proteins in our bodies. Chromosomes are bundles of tightly coiled DNA located within the nucleus of almost every cell in our body.

Humans have 23 pairs of chromosomes. Meiosis is a process where a single cell divides twice to produce four cells containing half the original amount of genetic information.

These cells are our sex cells — sperm in males, eggs in females. Cells divide and reproduce in two ways, mitosis and meiosis. Mitosis results in two identical daughter cells, whereas meiosis results in four sex cells. Below we highlight the keys differences and similarities between the two types of cell division.

If you have any other comments or suggestions, please let us know at comment yourgenome. Can you spare minutes to tell us what you think of this website? Open survey. In: Facts In the Cell. During mitosis one cell divides once to form two identical cells. The major purpose of mitosis is for growth and to replace worn out cells. Can you spare minutes to tell us what you think of this website? Open survey. In: Facts In the Cell. In metaphase individual chromosomes pairs of chromatids line up along the equator.

During anaphase the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles. During anaphase I the sister chromatids move together to the same pole. During anaphase II the sister chromatids are separated to opposite poles. Similarities Mitosis Diploid parent cell Consists of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase In metaphase individual chromosomes pairs of chromatids line up along the equator. Ends with cytokinesis. Meiosis Diploid parent cell Consists of interphase, prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase but twice!

In metaphase II individual chromosomes pairs of chromatids line up along the equator. During mitosis, a cell duplicates all of its contents, including its chromosomes, and splits to form two identical daughter cells. Because this process is so critical, the steps of mitosis are carefully controlled by certain genes. When mitosis is not regulated correctly, health problems such as cancer can result.

The other type of cell division, meiosis, ensures that humans have the same number of chromosomes in each generation. It is a two-step process that reduces the chromosome number by half—from 46 to 23—to form sperm and egg cells.

When the sperm and egg cells unite at conception, each contributes 23 chromosomes so the resulting embryo will have the usual Meiosis also allows genetic variation through a process of gene shuffling while the cells are dividing.

Other chapters in Help Me Understand Genetics.