What term refers to the process where a eukaryotic cell nucleus splits into two identical cells?

Prepare for the Laboratory Animal Technologist Certification Test. Utilize our quizzes and study guides featuring flashcards and multiple-choice questions with hints and explanations. Enhance your readiness for success!

The process in which a eukaryotic cell nucleus divides into two identical nuclei is known as mitosis. During mitosis, the genetic material within the nucleus is replicated and evenly distributed to two daughter cells, ensuring that each new cell receives an exact copy of the cell's DNA. This is a crucial process for growth, development, and tissue repair in multicellular organisms.

Mitosis consists of several phases, including prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase, followed by cytokinesis, which is the division of the cytoplasm and results in two separate cells. While cytokinesis is related to the overall cell division process, it specifically refers to the cytoplasmic division that occurs after mitosis has taken place, not the division of the nucleus itself.

Meiosis is a separate process that leads to the formation of gametes (sperm and eggs) and involves two rounds of division resulting in four non-identical cells, which is different from the identical cells produced by mitosis.

Binary fission is a method of asexual reproduction in prokaryotic organisms, such as bacteria, where the cell divides into two equally sized offspring and does not involve a nucleus, since prokaryotes lack defined nuclei.

Thus

Subscribe

Get the latest from Examzify

You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our privacy policy