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mitosis

0 synonyms and 0 antonyms for mitosis, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — The process by which a cell divides to produce two new cells, each with a complete and identical set of chromosomes.

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How to Use Mitosis

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undergo mitosis stages of mitosis mitosis and meiosis cells divide by mitosis

Technical biology term, standard in schools and scientific writing.

Etymology

From Greek mitos, meaning 'thread', with the suffix -osis, after the thread-like appearance of the chromosomes during division.

Full origin of mitosis →

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between mitosis and meiosis?

Mitosis produces two daughter cells that are genetically identical to the parent cell and have the full number of chromosomes. Meiosis produces four cells with half the number of chromosomes, and it is used to make sex cells such as eggs and sperm. Mitosis is for growth and repair; meiosis is for reproduction.

What are the stages of mitosis?

The stages are prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase, usually followed by cytokinesis, in which the cell body itself splits. Some courses add prometaphase between prophase and metaphase.

Is mitosis the same as cell division?

Not quite. Mitosis is the division of the nucleus and its chromosomes; cytokinesis is the division of the rest of the cell. Together they make up the complete process of cell division.

Nearby Words

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Synonyms and antonyms from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA.