8.

1 Cell Replication

Purposes of Cell Replication

 Restoring the nucleus-to-cytoplasm-ratio

o In most cells of a multicellular organism the nucleus is able to control the
cytoplasm very easily. Eggs cell however are large and have a very low nucleus-
to-cytoplasm ratio and therefore there is too much cytoplasm for one nucleus to
control.
o After an egg is fertilised the nucleus-to-cytoplasm restoration occurs through
mitotic division where the cell divides repeatedly by mitosis. This help balance
the nucleus-to-cytoplasm ratio.
 Growth and Development
o Multicellular organisms grow in size by increasing the number of their cells
through repeated cell replication; the new cells then grow in size and increase the
size of the organism.
o As the new individual cell continues to develop they become specialised for
different purposes. More replication occurs, and the specialised cells become
organised into tissues.
o Development in multicellular organisms involves a balance between cell
replication and cell death. Some cells are programmed to die which is known as
apoptosis.
o Other cells such as nerve and red blood cells become highly specialised and no
longer undergo replication.
 Tissue maintenance and repair
o As cells die or are damaged, cells produced through replication can replace though
cells, allowing an organism to maintain and repair itself

Cells Divide Exponentially

 Exponential growth by cell replication: C=2n where C is the number of cells and n is
the number of cell divisions that have occurred

Cell Replication in Eukaryotes

 In eukaryotes (protists, fungi, plants and animals), cells replicate by mitosis followed
by cytokinesis
 Mitosis is the division of the nucleus into two daughter cell nuclei. At the end of
mitosis the cytoplasm also divides known as cytokinesis
 Another form of cell division in eukaryotes cells is called meiosis and is not a form of
cell replication because the two daughter cells are different from each other as well as
the parent cell
 Meiosis is a cell division that is required for sexual reproduction; it produces daughter
cells that are genetically unique

Cell Replication in Prokaryotes

 Prokaryotes cells are simple single celled organisms and have no nucleus or membrane
bound organelles, instead they have a single continuous DNA chromosome attacked to
the plasma membrane called the origin
 Binary fission is the method of replication of prokaryotes cells and is an efficient process
wherein the DNA molecule replicates, the cell grows larger and then splits into two
daughter cells

Review Questions

1. C (Reproduction)
2. D (Cytokinesis occurs after meiosis)
3. a)
b)
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