Mitosis

Definition

Mitosis in plain English

Mitosis is how one cell copies itself to make two identical cells — it's the process behind growing, healing a cut, and replacing worn-out cells. Before dividing, the cell duplicates all of its DNA, then carefully splits that DNA so each new cell gets a complete, matching set; 'diploid' just means each cell keeps the full two-copies-of-every-chromosome amount that body cells normally have. The result is two daughter cells that are genetic twins of the original. Picture photocopying an entire instruction manual and handing out two complete copies, so nothing is missing or scrambled.

Learn these first

• Meiosis

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