Genetics, Mitosis

Excerpt

The ability to reproduce is one trait that sets living organisms apart from nonliving matter. The flow of life is based on cell division or the reproduction of cells. Cell division can play a different role in different organisms. For example, when a prokaryotic cell generally divides, it has completely reproduced because it gives rise to a new organism. However, in multicellular eukaryotes, mitotic cell division is mostly used for growth and replacement or repair of injured cells. Most cell division results in genetically identical daughter cells. First, a dividing cell replicates its DNA. After a variety of steps, the cell divides via mitosis and cytokinesis. Mitosis is one part of the cell cycle, which is detailed below.