Somatic cells divide through the process of mitosis and cytokinesis, which consists of four stages: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. Mitosis occurs in one round; after the four stages and cytokinesis, two daughter cells that are identical to the parent cell are produced. On the other hand, reproductive cell division is a process in which the reproductive cells are reproduced, this includes meiosis and cytokinesis. However, unlike mitosis, meiosis happens in two consecutive rounds, meiosis I and II. Meiosis I has four phases: prophase I, metaphase I, anaphase I, and telophase I. In Meiosis I, two haploid daughter cells are produced from one diploid parent cell. Afterward, Meiosis II occurs, which also has four phases prophase II, metaphase II, anaphase II, and telophase II. This stage has a resemblance to mitosis since this is where the two haploid daughter cells produced in Meiosis I divide, resulting in four haploid gametes.
Both somatic and reproductive cell divisions hold significance in our body. Our body cells increase in number because of somatic cell division, while reproductive cell division is responsible for the production of sperm cells and egg cells. For somatic cell division, the process keeps the cells to reproduce while maintaining the two sets of chromosomes in our cells. In the same way, reproductive cell division allows the reproduction of gametes that contain a single set of 23 chromosomes. This is important because we reproduce when two gametes meet each other, which constitute two sets of chromosomes that totals the diploid number of chromosomes.
2. What is the significance of interphase?
The interphase is a very significant part of cell division as it is where the cell is prepared for cell division. This is comprised of three phases: the G1, S, and G2 phases. In the first phase, the cell replicates most of its organelles along with the cytosolic components as it is metabolically active. During the S phase, the replication of DNA and centrosomes happen. This replication of DNA allows the production of two cells that have the same genetic material in the latter part of cell division. Lastly, in the G2 phase, the cell continues to grow while the synthesis of other enzymes and proteins happens. This is also where the complete replication of centrosomes occurs. Hence, the interphase allows the cell to grow, replicate its components like the organelles, DNA, and centrosomes, and it guarantees that the cell has its essential components prepared for cell division.