Cell reproduction is the process by which cells divide to form new cells.

Each time a cell

divides, it makes a copy of all of its chromosomes, which are tightly coiled strands of DNA,
the genetic material that holds the instructions for all life, and sends an identical copy to the
new cell that is created. This is a process called Mitosis, and can be found in greater detail
by following the link.
Humans have 46 Chromosomes within each of their body cells. Other species have
different numbers of Chromosomes, however. One species of fern has 1262 of them! As you
might guess, the number of chromosomes does not directly impact the complexity of an
organism. As chromosomes vary in size, one human chromosome can hold genetic
information equivalent to the amound ot genetic information in many chromosomes from
another organism.
A chromosomes consists of two halves, called Chromatids. These halves are divided in
their center by a centromere. This structure is what attaches to spindle fibers during mitosis
to pull one chromatid to each side of the cell when it divides.
In humans, 44 of the chromosomes consist of autosomes, and the remaining two are
the sex chromosomes. These chromosomes determine the gender of the organism. (A male
has an X and a Y, while a female has to Xs).
In addition, all the chromosomes in an organism excluding the sex chromosomes are part
of ahomologous pair. They contain genes to control the same traits but the genes do not
have the same instructions. For example, one chromosome might have the genes for brown
eyes while its homolouge might have genes for blue eyes. One homolouge is inherited from
the mother while the other is inherited from the father.
More coming soon...
The Cell Cycle
The cell cycle is the of steps that cells take to grow, develop, and reproduce. It can be
broken down into five steps:
1. G1 Phase
2. S Phase
3. G2 Phase
4. M Phase
5. Cytokinesis
G1 Phase
During the G1 Phase, the cell grows and stores up energy that it will use during cell
division. Nutrients are taken in and all the usual cell processes take place. Once cells are
fully grown, they proceed on to the S Phase.
 S Phase
During the S Phase, the DNA in the cell's nucleus is copied. This means that the cell then
attains two copies of all the necessary DNA for normal cell activity, leaving a full set to
be transferred into the new cell that will be created after the cell divides.

G2 Phase
During this phase, the cell prepares for cell division. This phase represents a time gap
between the time when the cell copies its DNA and when it divides.

M Phase
During this phase, cell division takes place through Mitosis.

Cytokinesis
During Cytokinesis, the cytoplasm in the cell divides and the cell's membrane pinches
inward and the cell begins to divide. Also, when plant cells divide, a cell plate forms between
the two new cells to divide them. After this step, the new cell and sometimes the original cell
also restart the cell cycle by beginning G1 Phase again. However, sometimes cells enter G0
phase, which is a phase where cells exit the cell cycle after they are fully grown and continue
to serve their purpose in an organism.