Currently having problems in school because i cannot understand how cell division works, please explain it to me.
In: Biology
In cell division, the cell that is dividing is called the **parent** cell. The parent cell divides into two **daughter** cells. The process then repeats in what is called the **cell cycle**.
Cells regulate their division by **communicating with each other** using chemical signals from special proteins called **cyclins**. These signals act like switches to tell cells *when to start dividing and later when to stop dividing*. It is important for cells to divide so you can grow and so your cuts heal. It is also important for cells to stop dividing at the right time. If a cell can not stop dividing when it is supposed to stop, this can lead to a disease called **cancer**.
Now, how *do* cells divide?
Depending on the type of cell, there are two ways cells divide: **mitosis and meiosis**. Each of these methods of cell division has special characteristics. One of the key differences in **mitosis** is a **single cell divides into two cells that are replicas of each other and have the same number of chromosomes**. This type of cell division is good for basic growth, repair, and maintenance. In **meiosis** a cell **divides into four cells that have half the number of chromosomes**. Reducing the number of chromosomes by half is important for sexual reproduction and provides for genetic diversity.
Can you specify what level of understanding you’re at, and what you’re trying to learn about? This is a little broad.
In simple terms, cell division is what happens when cells gather enough materials to make an extra copy of their important components, and then splits apart into two smaller cells. Each step along this process is given [its own name, and can be visually distinguished by what the cell looks like.](https://www.thoughtco.com/stages-of-mitosis-373534)
There’s a couple of sites I found useful while in school. [Crash Course youtube series on biology](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3EED4C1D684D3ADF), with video 13 covering cell division. [Khan Academy video series on cell division,](https://www.khanacademy.org/test-prep/mcat/cells/cellular-division/v/cell-cycle-phases) which goes into more detail than Crash Course.
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