Mitosis

noun (uncountable)

/maɪˈtəʊsɪs/

Mitosis is the type of eukaryotic cell division in which a parent cell replicates its chromosomes and divides into two genetically identical daughter cells, each with the same diploid chromosome number as the parent. It proceeds through four sequential phases — prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase — and is essential for growth, tissue repair, and asexual reproduction. Cancer, a leading cause of non-communicable disease mortality in India, arises when the regulatory checkpoints governing mitosis are disrupted, leading to uncontrolled cell proliferation.

✍️ Usage in a UPSC answer

Disruption of mitotic spindle assembly checkpoints is a primary mechanism by which carcinogens induce genomic instability, a finding central to India's National Cancer Grid treatment protocols targeting rapidly dividing tumour cells.

Synonyms

somatic cell divisionequational divisioncleavage divisionproliferative division

Antonyms

meiosisapoptosissenescence

🌱 Word Family

mitotic (adjective), mitotically (adverb), mitogen (noun), mitogenesis (noun)

🔡 Root

Greek mitos = thread (referring to chromosomal threads visible under microscope); -osis = process or condition

📜 Etymology

The term was introduced by German anatomist Walther Flemming in 1882 from Greek mitos (warp thread, thread), describing the thread-like appearance of chromosomes he observed during cell division. The suffix -osis is a Greek formative denoting a biological process or pathological condition. Flemming's work in Zellsubstanz, Kern und Zelltheilung established the vocabulary of modern cell biology.

🧠 Memory Hook

PMAT — Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, Telophase — the four stages of mitosis spell out a simple sequence. Remember: mito- means thread; in mitosis, chromosomes look like threads dancing before the cell splits into two identical copies.

⚗️ General Science 📖 Seen in: Human Body Systems — Organ Systems, Ph...

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