cell division

noun

Meaning

The biological process by which a parent cell splits into two or more daughter cells to facilitate growth, repair, or reproduction.

Examples

  • During cell division, the genetic material is carefully replicated and distributed to ensure each new cell functions correctly.
  • Scientists study how errors during cell division can lead to the uncontrolled growth seen in cancerous tumors.

Synonyms: mitosis, meiosis, cytokinesis, proliferation