Mitosis
One cell becomes two identical cells.
From one cell to trillions
Every human begins life as a single fertilised egg. That one cell divides again and again to make trillions of cells.
When a body cell divides into two, how do the two new cells compare with the parent cell?
What this lesson covers
The idea
Mitosis, the most common type of cell division, produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell, each with the same DNA and the same number of chromosomes as the parent.
From one cell to trillions
Every human begins life as a single fertilised egg. That one cell divides again and again to make trillions of cells.
When a body cell divides into two, how do the two new cells compare with the parent cell?
- They are identical to it, with the same DNA and the same number of chromosomes
- Each has half the DNA of the parent
- They have completely different DNA from each other
Follow one division
Press + to step through. Then change the number of chromosomes and try again.
Mitosis
Mitosis is the most common type of cell division. It produces two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell. Each new cell gets the same DNA and the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.
This keeps the genetic information largely the same across body cells. Mitosis is important for normal growth, repair, maintenance and asexual reproduction.
- Parent cell | Each daughter cell
- Number of cells | 1 | 2
- DNA | its own | the same
- Chromosomes | a number n | the same number n
Notes
Mitosis makes two genetically identical daughter cells from one parent cell, each with the same DNA and the same number of chromosomes. It is the most common type of cell division.
Check yourself
A parent cell has 10 chromosomes and divides by mitosis. How many chromosomes does each daughter cell have?
Answer: 10 chromosomes
Each daughter cell gets the same number of chromosomes as the parent: 10.
How many daughter cells does one round of mitosis make?
Which of these is not a job of mitosis?
A human body cell has 46 chromosomes. After mitosis, each daughter cell has…
- Two, genetically identical — correct. Yes.
- Four, each with half the chromosomes. That is meiosis.
- One, with double the DNA. Two cells form.
- Making gametes for sexual reproduction — correct. Gametes come from meiosis.
- Normal growth of the body. Mitosis helps growth.
- Repair of damaged tissue. Mitosis helps repair.
- 46 chromosomes — correct. Yes. The number stays the same.
- 23 chromosomes. That would be half, as in a gamete.
- 92 chromosomes. The number does not double.