How cell division proceeds depends on whether a cell has a nucleus. Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus. Their DNA is in the cytoplasm. It forms just one circular chromosome. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus holding their DNA. Their DNA forms multiple rodlike chromosomes. In a prokaryotic cell, cell division occurs by the process of binary fission. The cell simply splits into two equal halves. This occurs in three steps: The cell's single chromosome is copied to form two identical chromosomes. This is called DNA replication. The two copies of the chromosome separate from each... Show more How cell division proceeds depends on whether a cell has a nucleus. Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus. Their DNA is in the cytoplasm. It forms just one circular chromosome. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus holding their DNA. Their DNA forms multiple rodlike chromosomes. In a prokaryotic cell, cell division occurs by the process of binary fission. The cell simply splits into two equal halves. This occurs in three steps: The cell's single chromosome is copied to form two identical chromosomes. This is called DNA replication. The two copies of the chromosome separate from each other. They move to opposite poles, or ends, of the cell. This is called chromosome segregation. The cell wall grows toward the center of the cell. The cytoplasm splits apart, and the cell pinches in two, forming two daughter cells. This is called cytokinesis. In a eukaryotic cell, cell division includes the process of mitosis, in which the nucleus of the cell divides. Cell division in a eukaryotic cell occurs in these three steps: The cell's chromosomes are copied in the process of DNA replication. Each chromosome undergoes replication to form two identical copies. The two copies are called sister chromatids. They are joined together at a point called the centromere. The cell's nucleus divides. This includes separation of the sister chromatids. This step is called mitosis. It is a complex process that occurs in four phases called prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. The rest of the cell divides by cytokinesis. The cell membrane grows toward the center of the cell and the cytoplasm divides, forming two daughter cells. Show less
How cell division proceeds depends on whether a cell has a nucleus. Prokaryotic cells lack a nucleus. Their DNA is in the cytoplasm. It forms just one circular chromosome. Eukaryotic cells have a nucleus holding their DNA. Their DNA forms multiple rodlike chromosomes. In a prokaryotic cell, cell division occurs by the process of binary fission. The cell simply splits into two equal halves. This occurs in three steps: The cell's single chromosome is copied to form two identical chromosomes. This is called DNA replication. The two copies of the chromosome separate from each other. They move to opposite poles, or ends, of the cell. This is called chromosome segregation. The cell wall grows toward the center of the cell. The cytoplasm splits apart, and the cell pinches in two, forming two daughter cells. This is called cytokinesis. In a eukaryotic cell, cell division includes the process of mitosis, in which the nucleus of the cell divides. Cell division in a eukaryotic cell occurs in these three steps: The cell's chromosomes are copied in the process of DNA replication. Each chromosome undergoes replication to form two identical copies. The two copies are called sister chromatids. They are joined together at a point called the centromere. The cell's nucleus divides. This includes separation of the sister chromatids. This step is called mitosis. It is a complex process that occurs in four phases called prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase. The rest of the cell divides by cytokinesis. The cell membrane grows toward the center of the cell and the cytoplasm divides, forming two daughter cells.
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