In Escherichia coli the cell division or fission follows DNA replication quickly.

Note that the products, called daughter cells, are of equal size and have equal information.

In Eukaryotic Cells there are significant changes with the nucleus that are related to cell division. In fact, the most striking things observed under the light microscope are the events of mitosis.

How was mitosis deduced?

• After cells were fixed, dehydrated, either squashed or embedded in parafilm and sectioned, they were examined under the light microscope.
• After studying the slides the process of mitosis was deduced. Much later with the advent of phase contrast microscopy living cells were shown to follow exactly the predicted series of events.
  • Prophase in a plant cell
  • Metaphase in a plant cell
  • Anaphase and Telophase in a plant cell

Now lets review the complete process in a plant cell with
the aid of diagrams.

Animal cells have centrioles which are not present in many plants. Animal cells the lack a rigid the cell wall to anchor with but have many micro tubules which form an aster for support.

In summary, during mitosis the nucleus is partitioned to produce two nuclei that have a complete set of the genetic materials.

Often associated with mitosis is cytokinesis which is the separation of the cytoplasmic components. The organelles are generally separated into two equal amounts. There are rare times when there are unequal divisions. Can you name one?

This web site is provided for instruction in Botany and Zoology 342

by Kenneth G. Wilson,
Professor of Botany
Miami University
wilsonkg@muohio.edu