Essential Cell Biology
Essential Cell Biology
4th Edition
ISBN: 9780815344544
Author: Keith Roberts, Karen Hopkin, Alexander D Johnson, Martin Raff, Dennis Bray, Bruce Alberts, Julian Lewis, Peter Walter
Publisher: TAYLOR
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Chapter 19, Problem 1Q
Summary Introduction

To explain: The reasons why the organisms do not utilize the first steps of meiosis for the normal mitotic division of somatic cells.

Introduction: Cell division is the process where the cells divide to produce two or more daughter cells. There are mainly two types of cell division- Mitosis and Meiosis. Mitosis involves the division of a single cell into two identical daughter cells. Meiosis involves the production of the sex cells-sperms and eggs. This process involves the division of a single cell twice to produce four daughter cells which exactly contains half of the original chromosomes numbers. There are two phases of meiosis- meiosis I and meiosis II.

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In meiosis I, there will be separation of the homologous pairs through the first round of the cell division which can produce one diploid cell and in meiosis II, there will be separation of the sister chromatids during the second round of the cell division. Hence, they can produce four haploid daughter cells whereas the mitosis involves the division of a single cell into two diploid daughter cells.

Somatic cells will have diploid number of chromosomes and it is necessary that the essential number of chromosomes to be present in the cell for its normal functioning. Abnormal number of chromosomes will result in cancerous cells or cell death. The genes required for the normal functioning of the cell is evenly distributed amongst the diploid number of chromosomes.

At the end of synthesis phase, the DNA replicates to form exactly two copies. The two copies should be evenly distributed amongst the daughter cells. If the cells were to be randomly distributed with chromosomes during cell division, the daughter cells will not accurately acquire one copy of each chromosome. The normal cell functioning will be stalled. Hence, the organisms do not utilize the first step of meiosis for the normal mitotic division of somatic cells.

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Mitochondrial mutations; Author: Useful Genetics;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvgXe-3RJeU;License: CC-BY