Question

Name the process where cytoplasmic material is divided into daughter cells?

Answer 1

Hint: Cell division occurs in the living cells in two ways that is, mitosis and meiosis. We are familiar with mitosis which is also called equational division which means division in equal amounts. It usually occurs in diploid cells.

Complete answer:
Mitosis results in the production of diploid daughter cells with identical genetic complements. It is also known as equational division which is restricted to the diploid cells. The growth in the multicellular organisms takes place through mitosis. Cell growth results in the distribution of the ratio in between the nucleus and the cytoplasm. It therefore becomes essential for the cells to nucleus and the cytoplasm. Thus the cell has to divide to restore the nucleo- cytoplasmic ratio.
Mitosis occurs in the following four stages-
Prophase- It is the first stage of mitosis followed by the S and G2 phase of the interphase. In these phases DNA molecules are formed are not distinct but intertwined. Chromosomal material becomes untangled during the process of chromatin condensation. The centriole which undergoes replication during the S phase now begins to move towards the opposite poles of the cell.
Metaphase- In this stage, the condensation of chromosomes is completed and they can be observed clearly. Spindle fibres attach to kinetochores of chromosomes. Then these chromosomes are moved to the spindle equator and get aligned along the metaphase plate through spindle fibres to both the sides.
Anaphase- Each chromosome arranged at the metaphase plate is split simultaneously with the daughter chromatids and moves to the equatorial plate.
Telophase- In this stage the chromosomes that have reached their respective poles decondense and lose their individuality. The individuality cannot be seen and tends to collect in a mass in the two poles. Golgi bodies , nucleolus and ER are reformed.
Cytokinesis - Mitosis is accomplished by the segregation of duplicated chromosomes into daughter nuclei but the cell itself is divided into two daughter cells. It is accomplished by a separate process termed as cytokinesis at the end of which cell division is completed. At the process of cytoplasmic division, organelles like mitochondria and plastids get separated and distributed between the two daughter cells.

Note: The German anatomy biologist, Water Fleming coined the term mitosis which came from Greek language where "mitos" means "to wrap thread" and "osis" means "to act or process". The main reason why mitosis takes place in the cells is the repair of the cell. The cells of the upper layer of the epidermis, cells of the lining of the gut and the blood cells are being replaced constantly. This occurs when the original cell is damaged so new cells are formed and are replaced by these worn out cells. These occurs in singled celled organisms as well as in some multi -cellular organism for asexual reproduction.