what process must occur before a cell can divide? Why?
2007-03-28 12:33:21 · 5 answers · asked by chargersfan_89 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
THere 2 types of cell division, Mitosis and meiosis. Meiosis is a special type of cell division to produce sperm, eggs etc, but mitosis is the the main type of cell division that occurs everywhere else in your body.
For each type of division the same kinds of things happen.
Firstly the nucleus disappears this is in order for the next parts to take place.
We have 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in our body cells. If a cell were to "just divide" we would have 23 and then half that number and so on, so every chromosome is copied (to make 92 chromosomes in total....4 pairs of every chromosome).
The chromosomes then line up at the centre of the cell just prior to the cell phyiscally dividing into 2 (the cell also has to be a certain size for cell division to take place).
The chromosomes are pulled apart and divided as the cell divdes into 2 and now the two "daughter" cells now have 46 chromosomes, just like the orignal cell.
Mitosis as cell division stops here, but in meiosis there is a 2nd division to halve the 46 chromosomes into 23 (this is so when the egg (23 chromosome) meets the sperm (23 chromosomes) they get the full compliement ot 46 chromosomes again.
2007-03-28 12:44:08 · answer #1 · answered by mareeclara 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
DNA must replicate (or be copied) before a cell can divide. It happens during the S stage of Interphase.
In cell cycles involving mitosis, the daughter cells are supposed to turn out just like the original cell was. So the DNA has to be copied in order to be divided into two nuclei just like the parental nucleus.
In cell cycles involving meiosis, the daughter cells are supposed to turn out with half the original number of chromosomes. Meiosis has two sets of divisions and ends up with four reproductive cells.
2007-03-28 12:54:19 · answer #2 · answered by ecolink 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Are we talking plant or animal cells?
If you're talking about animal cells are they gametes (the sex cells in humans (sperm cells from males, eggs for females)?
If it's a generalized cell, meiosis does -not- take place.
Mitosis, on the other hand does.
Mitosis needs to occur before a cell can split as that is how a cell duplicates its genetic material.
2007-03-28 13:54:58 · answer #3 · answered by My name is not Rick 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
anaphase has to occur before a cell can divide
2007-03-28 12:44:53 · answer #4 · answered by enforcerfury 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
meiosis or mitosis, depending on what kind of cell it is. and before this, dna replication.
2007-03-28 12:43:06 · answer #5 · answered by ANT-a-gonistic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋