1. Distinguish between somatic and reproductive cell division and explain the importance of each.
Mitosis is a division process that occurs in somatic cells (also referred to as somatic cell division). In this kind of cell division, two identical daughter cells with the same properties are created. On the other hand, through a process of cell division known as meiosis, reproductive cells are created. Meiosis is the process by which a diploid parent cell—one with two copies of each chromosome—produces four haploid cells by going through one round of DNA replication, two independent cycles of nuclear division, and one round of nuclear division.
2. What is the significance of interphase?
The eukaryotic cell cycle's interphase is the longest phase. The cell collects nutrients, produces and utilizes proteins and other substances, and begins the process of cell division by replicating the DNA throughout the three stages of interphase (G1, S, and G2). These processes involve the creation of crucial proteins and enzymes for DNA replication.