Mitosis
Cell division that produces two daughter cells genetically identical to the parent cell, used for growth and repair.
In other languages
- EN: Mitosis
- BM: Mitosis
- 中文: 有丝分裂
In the syllabus and the exam
Mitosis is examined through both the stages of cell division (prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase) and its biological importance in growth, repair of damaged tissue, and asexual reproduction, and candidates are frequently given diagrams of a cell at different stages and asked to sequence and name them correctly. A key idea repeatedly tested is that mitosis produces two daughter cells that are genetically identical to each other and to the parent cell, each having the same chromosome number as the parent, which examiners often phrase as 'maintaining the chromosome number' across generations of cells within an organism. A very common error is confusing mitosis with meiosis, particularly mixing up the number of daughter cells produced (two for mitosis, four for meiosis) and whether those daughter cells are genetically identical (mitosis) or genetically different (meiosis); candidates should also be able to state that mitosis produces diploid cells while meiosis produces haploid cells. Another frequent mistake is describing the stages of mitosis out of order, or describing chromosomes as only visible during interphase, when in fact chromosomes condense and become visible under a microscope specifically during prophase, after DNA has already been copied during interphase. Candidates should also be able to link mitosis to real medical contexts, such as explaining that uncontrolled, excessive mitosis in a group of cells is what underlies tumour growth, a connection the syllabus uses to bridge cell division to questions on health and disease. A further point tested at higher levels is that the exact duration of each stage differs between cell types, but the overall sequence of prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase remains the same across almost all eukaryotic cells.
Example
A skin cell undergoes mitosis to produce two new skin cells, each with the same number and type of chromosomes as the original cell, allowing the wound to heal.
Related terms
Source:SRC-DSKP-EN
Related
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