1. Distinguish between somatic and reproductive cell division and explain the importance of each.
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Somatic cell division is also known as mitosis division. This involves the division of parent cells cytoplasm and organelles. Here, the somatic or body cells are divided to produce 2 nuclei, containing identical copies of DNA, resulting in the formation of two daughter cells. Conversely, meiosis involves the gametes or sex cells for reproduction. From here, the parent cells reproduce by dividing and combining to create offspring with their shared genes. The importance of both cell divisions is there are needed to maintain life, especially for those organisms who reproduce sexually. Mitosis is responsible in cell growth and development, while Meiosis is needed for cell reproduction.
2. What is the significance of interphase?
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The interphase is also called the preparatory phase where cell growth and DNA replication happen. This is essential to make sure that there would be no complications in the chromosomes, which can lead to genetic disorders or even cancerous cells. The interphase also allows for the proper growth of cells, repairing of damaged cells, the checking of the DNA pairing and the number of chromosomes, and if impossible to repair, apoptosis will happen.