1. Distinguish between somatic and reproductive cell division and explain the importance of each.
Somatic cells divide through mitosis. In mitosis, each daughter cell has the same DNA and chromosomes as its parent cells. The daughter cells are diploid cells and have two sets of chromosomes. Since every cell has the same DNA, no genetic diversity is created. This is important for our growth and for repairing damaged sections of the body.
Reproductive cells divide through meiosis. During meiosis, a small section breaks from each chromosome and attaches to another chromosome which produces genetic variation among the daughter cells. This is important since it produces genetic variations on the offspring of the organism which can potentially eliminate harmful genes from one of the parents.
2. What is the significance of interphase?
Interphase is the everyday life of a cell. It is important since this is the stage wherein a cell replicates is DNA to prepare itself for cell division.