Definition
Cell division is the process by which a cell separates itself into two parts (infrequently more parts) to generate two genetically equal daughter cells.
Characteristics
The physical division of cells is a requirement of natural growth in unicellular organisms as much as in complex organisms. In order to multiply a cell needs to duplicate its own composition, cytoplasmic organelles and genetic material. Only then will cell division proceed by separation of the nucleus (“mitosis”) and cytoplasm (“cytokinesis”). This process is restricted to somatic cells, since germ cells form four haploid cells out of one diploid cell (meiosis). In normal somatic cells, division occurs as part of a complete cell‐cycle (“cell division cycle”). Moreover, the decision for cytokinesis and mitosis are linked to the cell‐cycle at several stages. This limits centrosomeamplification and DNA replication to once per cell‐cycle. In all organisms cell division is highly regulated. Molecules required...
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References
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© 2005 Springer-Verlag
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Boden, C., Ziebold, U. (2005). Cell Division. In: Encyclopedic Reference of Genomics and Proteomics in Molecular Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg . https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29623-9_5690
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/3-540-29623-9_5690
Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
Print ISBN: 978-3-540-44244-8
Online ISBN: 978-3-540-29623-2
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