cell division
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. The biological process by which a single parent cell divides to produce two or more daughter cells. This is a fundamental process for reproduction, growth, and repair in living organisms. It involves the duplication of the cell's contents and their subsequent separation into new cells.
Usage
- Cell division is a core concept in biology.
- The term is typically used in scientific, academic, and medical contexts to describe the mechanism of cellular reproduction.
- It is often modified by the specific type of division, such as mitotic cell division or meiotic cell division.
Examples
- Noun:
- The rapid cell division of the embryo is a critical stage in early development.
- Cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell division.
- Studying the phases of cell division is essential for understanding genetics.
Advanced Usage
- "To undergo cell division": This phrase describes the action of a cell entering and completing the division process.
- Once fertilized, the egg will begin to undergo cell division.
- The process can be described in stages: cell division involves interphase, mitosis (or meiosis), and cytokinesis.
Variants and Related Words
- Mitosis (n): A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus. It is typical of ordinary tissue growth.
- Meiosis (n): A type of cell division that reduces the chromosome number by half, resulting in four daughter cells (gametes). It is essential for sexual reproduction.
- Cytokinesis (n): The physical process of cell division, which divides the cytoplasm of a parental cell into two daughter cells.
- Binary fission (n): A form of asexual reproduction and cell division used by prokaryotes (like bacteria).
Synonyms
- Cellular division
- Cellular reproduction
- Cytokinesis (specifically refers to the final splitting of the cell, but is often used in the context of the overall process)
Related Phrases
- Cycle of cell division: Refers to the repeated sequence of events, including growth and division, that cells undergo.
- The cycle of cell division is tightly regulated by specific proteins.
- Rate of cell division: Describes how frequently cells divide.
- The rate of cell division decreases with age.
Noun
- the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells