Cell Cycle, Mitosis and Meiosis-3D Animation

The only way to make new cells is by duplicating the existing cells. During the process of cell division, the cell duplicates its content and then divides into two. This process of duplication and division is known as the cell cycle. Before the actual division takes place the cell goes through an inter-phase that consists of G1 (Gap 1), S (Synthesis) and G2 (Gap 2) phases.

The cells can undergo two types of division, i.e. either mitotic or meiotic. In the mitotic cell division or mitosis, the cell divides into two daughter cells keeping the number of chromosomes constant from the parent cell to the daughter cells. For example, in humans when the cells undergo mitosis, the number of chromosomes in both the parental and the daughter cells is 46 or 23 pairs. This is the reason the mitosis is also known as equational cell division.

The following is a 3D animation of the process of the cell cycle and mitosis.

The other type of cell division takes place only during gametogenesis (formation of sperm and egg). In a meiotic cell division or meiosis, the parental and the daughter cells have a different number of chromosomes. The daughter cells receive half of the chromosomes of the parent cells. In human, the parental cell contains 46 chromosomes or 23 pairs, but the cells formed after meiosis consists of only 23 chromosomes.

The following is a 3D animation of the process of meiosis.