Concept: Compare the Process of Mitosis and Meiosis TEK B.6E Concept: Compare the Process of Mitosis and Meiosis

Cell division takes place in two steps, the first is called mitosis in which the nucleus divides; the second is cytokinesis in which the cytoplasm divides. Cell division is necessary for a multicellular organism to replace cells and to add new cells as the organism grows and develops. Mitosis is also a method of asexual reproduction for unicellular organisms. When a cell undergoes mitosis, the newly formed cell or daughter cell is genetically identical to the parent cell. When the cell is not dividing, the cell is in interphase. During interphase the cell is undergoing all normal cell functions. In the later stages of interphase, DNA replicates and the cell will then ready itself for cell division. Mitosis occurs in four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase. In telophase, the cytoplasm divides in the process of cytokinesis.