1. Distinguish between somatic and reproductive cell division and explain the importance of each.
-Somatic cell division
--DESCRIPTION: Somatic cells describe any cell in the body that are not gametes (sperm or egg), germ cells (cells turn into gametes), or stem cells. Somatic cells undergo cell division through a process called mitosis. They possess two copies of each chromosome, one from the mother and the other from the father. Cells with two copies of each chromosome are called diploid. This process only occurs in once, unlike meiosis which happens twice.
--IMPORTANCE: This is important for growth, repair of damaged tissues, healing, and regeneration. For instance, the epidermis of the skin flakes off and gets replaced by newer ones to ensure that the skin is able to maintain its regular functions.
-Reproductive cell division
--DESCRIPTION: Reproductive cells (sperm for males and egg for females), called gametes, are formed through meiosis. It is a process of cell division that results in the cells having only one copy of each chromosome. These cells are called haploid. Gametes are haploid because during fertilization, a sperm and an egg fuse to create a new organism with diploid cells. This process occurs twice (meiosis I and meiosis II), unlike mitosis which only happens once.
--IMPORTANCE: This is crucial to ensure the continuation of life through the next generations of an organism. In addition, it also provides genetic diversity and helps reprogram the sex cells through the fertilized zygote.
2. What is the significance of interphase?
Interphase is important because it is the phase where the cell grows, replicates its DNA, and prepares for cell division. It is subdivided into 3 phases which all play a role in it its significance. During G1, the cell performs its regular functions and physically increases in size. During the S phase, DNA replication occurs. Finally, during the G2 phase the cell continues to grow, duplicates its organelles, and prepares for cell division. As a whole, the phases and checkpoints in interphase ensure that cell division will properly occur.
REFERENCES:
BD Editors. (2012). Interphase. Retrieved from Biology Dictionary: https://biologydictionary.net/interphase/