Mar 18, 2024

Mitosis: The Secret of Cellular Life Revealed

Mitose : Le Secret de la Vie Cellulaire Révélé

Article on the role of mitosis and its mode of operation

Welcome to this article dedicated to mitosis, an essential process in the life of all cells. Before diving into the details of mitosis, let's see where you stand with this quick quiz

Test your knowledge of mitosis with this quiz

Understanding the Role of Mitosis

Mitosis is a process by which a parent cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells. This mechanism is crucial for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms. During mitosis, the cell's genetic material, contained in chromosomes, is duplicated and then distributed equally between the two new cells.

Did you know? Mitosis occurs only in somatic cells (all cells in the body except germ cells such as sperm and egg cells), ensuring that each new cell has the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Why is mitosis so important?

Growth and Development

Mitosis is central to the growth of multicellular organisms. From a single initial cell, the zygote, an organism develops through a continuous series of mitotic cell divisions, giving rise to millions or even billions of cells. Each division increases the number of cells, allowing the organism to grow in size and complexity.

Repair and Regeneration

Mitosis also plays a crucial role in the repair of damaged tissues. For example, when a cut occurs on the skin, nearby cells begin to divide through mitosis to replace the lost cells and repair the wound. This regenerative process is fundamental to maintaining the integrity of body tissues throughout an organism's life.

Figure 1: Cell in division, actin filaments in yellow and chromosomes in blue. Credit: George Von Dassow of Oregon University

How are mitosis and cancer related?

Mitosis is a fundamental process in cell division, which allows cells to divide and produce two identical daughter cells. This mechanism is crucial for growth, tissue repair, and maintaining the integrity of body tissues. However, abnormalities in mitosis can play a key role in the development of cancer.

Errors in Cell Division: Mitosis, which is the process by which a cell divides into two, must be well regulated to avoid errors in the number of chromosomes. Excessive Cell Proliferation: Cancer cells often exhibit accelerated mitosis, leading to rapid tumor growth.

Did you know? Some cells, such as neurons, no longer divide once they mature. However, in tissues where cells are frequently lost or damaged, such as skin and mucous membranes, mitosis is a continuous process.

What do you think?

Can errors in mitosis cause genetic mutations that lead to cancer?

Expert Answer: Dr. Paul Nurse, winner of the 2001 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his discoveries about cell cycle control, explains: “Mitosis is a finely regulated process that ensures the correct distribution of chromosomes to daughter cells. However, when there are defects in the mechanisms that regulate mitosis, such as errors in the formation of the mitotic spindle or defects in cell cycle checkpoints, these abnormalities can result in incorrect distribution of chromosomes. This phenomenon, known as chromosomal imbalance or aneuploidy, is often seen in cancer cells.” So the correct answer is “Yes.”