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

1. the process in reproduction and growth by which a cell divides to form daughter cells