1. Distinguish between somatic and reproductive cell division and explain the importance of each.
Somatic cell division, which includes mitosis and cytokinesis, results in an increase in body cells. The process of somatic cell division, divided into interphase and mitotic phase, produces somatic cells which make up the body’s tissues and organs; this process is important for cell development, growth, repair, and regeneration. On the other hand, reproductive cell division, which includes meiosis and cytokinesis, produces egg cells and sperm cells, both of which are needed for gamete formation, and occurs in two phases: Meiosis I and Meiosis II.
2. What is the significance of interphase?
The interphase is an important stage due to the fact that this is the time when the cell grows, replicates its DNA, and makes its final preparations before undergoing cell division; it is a non-dividing stage that includes the following phases: the first gap (G1) phase, the synthesis (S) phase, and the second gap (G2) phase.