Table of Contents:

• Introduction to Cell Cycle
• How Cell Division Keep Us Alive (Importance)
• Four Phases of Cell Cycle
• The Epic Showdown: Mitosis vs. Meiosis
• Conclusion: The Basis of Life

Introduction to Cell Cycle

The best way to think of the cell cycle is imagining it as a highly organized routine or schedule that must be followed and repeated. Every living organism relies on the process to grow, repair and reproduce. It is the encoded moves that allows us to survive. Without it, we would have no different than from a chaotic cluster of malfunctioning cells!

“Every living thing is made of cells, and everything a living thing does is done by the cells that make it up“. I remember watching an animated documentary in high school where a biologist explains in precise details the cell cycle and the noble work of cell division that every second every minute in occurring in our body as you read this article. It is precise to say literally, the cell cycle is the heartbeat of biology–pretty cool, isn’t it?

How Cell Division Keep Us Alive

You probably have heard this phrase a lot: cell is the building blocks of life. Try to imagine building a house without blocks, this is why cell division is important. Cell division is the process that helps make more “blocks” for your body to continue functioning. It is the “crystal of evolution” where we grew from a single cell organism into a complex organism. Cell division takes part of your daily life without you noticing it, whether it was to heal from bruises and wounds or replacing outdated cells with new efficient ones, cell division is the hero that will always save the day. In other words without cell division, any living thing wouldn’t be able to grow, heal, reproduce, or even exist in the world.

Four Phases of Cell Cycle

The cell cycle has four main phases: Growth Phase 1 (G1), S phase, Growth Phase 2 (G2), M phase (where mitosis or meiosis happen).

G1 also known as cellular growth; it is where the cell grow in size and perform regular metabolic functions, just think of it as the cell preparing for division where it gathers nutrients, produces proteins, and ensures that the cell gained enough energy to move towards the division. A fun way to think about it is that G1 phase is like stretching before intense physical exercise.

The next phase is known as the S phase; DNA replication happens where during this phase the cell copies its entire DNA making sure that both daughter cell after division would receive identical genetic materials. More specifically each chromosome duplicates, forming two identical sister chromatids.

G2 generally one would consider this phase as the final stage of interphase and preparation for the “Great Division” either mitosis or meiosis depending on the cell type.

Finally is the M phase, this is the biggest event in the cell division where it undergoes prophase, metaphase, anaphase, telophase, and cytokinesis.

Meiosis VS Mitosis

Even though the two processes sounds extremely similar, there are many foundational differences between meiosis and mitosis. Starting from the simplest method of identifying each, meiosis serves the purpose for producing gametes or sperm and egg cells for reproduction. While mitosis’s main purpose was to promote growth, repair the damaged, and maintenance of body. In many sci fi movies, you probably have familiarized yourself with the term “clone”, well mitosis is just like that: it is the photocopy of yourself perfectly. Meiosis on the other hand is more randomly generated, the outcomes could not be determined before hand just like roiling the dice or flipping the coin.

Therefore both mitosis and meiosis are vital for the continue development of any species and race, where one serves to keep the organisms alive while the latter serves to pass down unique traits and adaptations to the next generations for them to obtain and thrive within the capricious world.

Conclusion: The Basis of Life

In the grand scheme of life, the cell cycle serves more than just biology, it presented how the nature granted us with the ability to survive and thrive on this planet, and led the way for us to evolve and adapt to facilitate advancements and developments. The next time you get a paper cut remember that your own microscopic world is working tirelessly just to keep you alive allowing you to enjoying what you do everyday.