Cell Division

What is the function of cell division? Unicellular organisms use cell division as a way to reproduce. Multicellular organisms use cell division in growth, development, repair, and reproduction.

The nucleus contains genetic material. The genetic material is called DNA. DNA contains information for an organism’s growth and functions. Long strands of DNA form chromosomes. Chromosomes are divided into sections called genes.

Growth, Development, Repair, Reproduction Multicellular organisms are made of trillions of cells. Multicellular organisms began as single cells. Cell division is important to 4 major functions: growth, development, repair, and reproduction

Growth Growing is when an organism increases in size. Multicellular organisms do not grow because their cells increase in size. (Cells to do grow, but there is a limit to their size.) Multicellular organisms grow because cell division increases the number of cells in it.

Growth

Development Development occurs as cells specialize to perform particular functions. If cell division were the only process, multicellular organisms would end up as spheres of identical cells. Specialized cells may take on the shapes or structures that help them perform their functions. All cells in an organism have the same genetic material, they just “use” special parts of the “code”.

Development

Repair When as organism ages or is injured, the worn out or damaged cells need to be replaced by new cells formed when healthy cells divide. Refer to page 78 in your textbook.