cell division

American  

noun

Biology.

1. the division of a cell in reproduction or growth.

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cell division British  

noun

1. cytology the division of a cell into two new cells during growth or reproduction See amitosis meiosis mitosis

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cell division Scientific  

1. The process by which a cell divides into two or more cells. Among prokaryotes, cell division occurs by simple fission. Among eukaryotes, the cell nucleus divides first, and then a new cell membrane is formed between the nuclei to form the new cell. Cell division is used as a means of reproduction in organisms that reproduce asexually, as by fission or spore formation, and sexually reproducing organisms form gametes through cell division. Cell division is also the source of tissue growth and repair in multicellular organisms. The two types of cell division in eukaryotic organisms are mitosis and meiosis.

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Etymology

Origin of cell division

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

They found that many strains lack genes normally responsible for regulating the cell cycle, the system that controls DNA replication and cell division.

From Science Daily

"In many types of tumors, this protein is one of the central drivers of cell division and thus of uncontrolled tumor growth," explains Martin Eilers.

From Science Daily

At the same time, genes linked to rapid cell division were turned down, which may make cancer cells less aggressive.

From Science Daily

This shift suggested that the timing and outcome of cell division had been altered, potentially explaining why the brain tissue failed to expand normally.

From Science Daily

Trillions of cell divisions occur daily in the human body, and each event must fight against the natural pull of disorder.

From Science Daily