Cell Division, Mitosis, and Meiosis

The purpose of cell division, mitosis, and meiosis is to provide daughter cells with hereditary directions carried in DNA. If a daughter cell does not recieve necessary directions for creating proteins, it will not function correctly. Every cell undergoes mitosis, but only sex cells and gamme cells undergo meiosis.

Cell division, a part of the cell cycle, is the the process of new cells being produced and new cells completing division.

Interphase is the longest phase of the cell cycle and is divided into 3 sections: Gap1, Synthesis, and Gap2. Interphase precedes mitosis or meiosis.

G1--- During this period, the cell increases its mass before the DNA is duplicated.
S--- During this period, the DNA is replicated by chromosomes being duplicated.
G2--- Following DNA replication, a cell prepares for division in this step.
When interphase is complete, mitosis or meiosis will take place, then the cytoplasm will divide.

* All pictures of cell phases are from "Biology, The Unity and Diversity of Life" by Starr and Taggart