mitosis
/mʌɪˈtəʊsɪs
/noun (plural mitoses) [mass noun] Biology
A type of cell division that results in two daughter cells each having the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent nucleus, typical of ordinary tissue growth: the single large egg cell subdivides by repeated mitosis [count noun]: each mitosis seems to be associated with an increase in calcium...Compare with meiosis.
- It is generally assumed that DNA chains are randomly segregated to daughter cells during mitosis.
- Centromeres are essential for the proper segregation of chromosomes at mitosis and meiosis.
- Counting cells at mitosis or interphase is universally applicable.
Derivatives
mitotic
- This is most likely to be a problem for mutants with a mitotic phenotype.
- Spermatogonia are the mitotic germ cells of the testis from which sperm arise by spermatogenesis.
- Only mononuclear protoplasts were capable of complete cell wall regeneration and mitotic division.
Origin
Late 19th century: modern Latin, from Greek mitos 'thread'.