Do Prokaryotes Go Through Mitosis

A black and white sketch shows chromosomes in a single dividing cell. The cell has an oviform shape. Anterior and posterior poles at the top and bottom of the cell are represented by several small dots. Thin lines, representing spindle microtubules, originate from both poles and extend toward the middle of the cell. Several chromosomes, which resemble worms, are aligned at the cell's equator.

Walther Flemming'due south cartoon of chromosomes.

Virtually cells grow, perform the activities needed to survive, and dissever to create new cells. These bones processes, known collectively as the jail cell cycle, are repeated throughout the life of a jail cell. Of the various parts of the cell cycle, the sectionalization portion is particularly important, because this is the point at which a cell passes its genetic data to its offspring cells. In many situations, division also ensures that new cells are bachelor to replace the older cells within an organism whenever those cells die.

Prokaryotic cells, which include bacteria, undergo a type of prison cell division known every bit binary fission. This process involves replication of the cell'due south chromosomes, segregation of the copied Dna, and splitting of the parent cell's cytoplasm. The event of binary fission is ii new cells that are identical to the original cell.

In contrast to prokaryotic cells, eukaryotic cells may divide via either mitosis or meiosis. Of these two processes, mitosis is more mutual. In fact, whereas just sexually reproducing eukaryotes tin engage in meiosis, all eukaryotes — regardless of size or number of cells — can engage in mitosis. Only how does this process proceed, and what sorts of cells does information technology produce?