It is common to see photomicrographs of onion root cells when demonstrating how cell division takes place in plants.

Onions have larger chromosomes than most plants and stain dark. The chromosomes are easily observed through a compound light microscope.

Phases of plant cells division: 1) Interphase is considered the first and last stage of plant cell division. It is the stage in which the cell is growing in size and replicating its DNA in preparation for division. The nucleus is apparent.

2) Prophase. During Prophase the The cells pictured below are located nuclear envelope starts to break down in the apical meristem of the onion and all the chromosomes start to coil root. The apical meristem is an area up in the center of the cell. of a plant where cell division takes 3) Metaphase is the middle stage at place at a rapid rate. which point all the chromosome pairs line up in the center of the cell along spindle fibers that pull to either side of the cell. 4) Anaphase. The spindle fibers become shorter and pull each chromosome pair apart to the opposite ends of the cell. 5) Telophase. The final stage of cell replication.The nuclear envelope is reformed. Cytokinesis takes place. A new cell wall is created down the center and two daughter cells are formed.

Mitosis
It is a common type of cell division that occurs in all the cells of an organism. Hence, it is commonly called as somatic cell division. In mitosis, the resulting daughter cells will have the same number of chromosomes and contain the same amount of DNA, as that of the parent cell. Hence, mitosis is commonly described as equational division.

Interphase
It is the preparing phase. It is of varying duration depending on the cell type function. It is the period in which the cell carries out synthesis of organelles and increases in size. The nucleoli are prominent and actively synthesising ribosomes. Just prior to division, the DNA undergoes replication. Each chromosome exists as a pair of chromatids joined together by a centromere

Karyokinesis
It is the division of nuclear material, represented by a sequence of events in the cell. It can be distinguished into four phases namely prophase, metaphase, anaphase and telophase.

Prophase
It is the longest stage of the division cycle. It is characterised by significant changes. Chromatids shorten (to about 4% of their original length) and thicken by spiralisation and condensation of DNA Centrioles move to the opposite poles of the cell Short microtubules develop, radiating from the centrioles. These are called asters Nucleolus gradually decreases in size and disappears Nuclear membrane disintegrates Spindle fibres appear in the cytoplasm

Metaphase
In this phase, chromosomes move to the equator of the cell.

y Pairs of chromatids become attached to the spindle fibres at their centromeres

Anaphase
It is a rapid stage.

y Each centromere splits into two y Spindle fibres pull the daughter centromeres to the opposite poles y The separated chromatids, now called chromosomes, are pulled along with centromeres to the opposite
poles

TelophaseIt is the last phase of Karyokinesis

Chromosomes reach the poles of the cell, uncoil and lengthen to form chromatin

y Spindle fibres disintegrate and centrioles replicate y A nuclear membrane is formed around chromosomes in each pole y Two daughter nuclei are formed

PROPHASE

METAPHASE

ANAPHASE

TELOPHASE

INTERPHASE

The significance of Mitosis are :-

1. It is an equational division through which identical daughter cells are produced having the same amount and type of genetic constitution as that of the parent cell. 2. It is responsible for growth and development of multi-cellular organisms from a single-celled zygote. 3. The number of chromosomes remains the same in all the cells produced by this division. Thus, the daughter cells retain the same characters as those of the parent cell. 4. It helps the cell in maintaining proper size. 5. Mitosis helps in restoring wear and tear in body tissues, replacement of damaged or lost part, healing of wounds and regeneration of detached parts (as in tail of a lizards). 6. It is a method of multiplication in unicellular organisms. 7. If mitosis remains unchecked, it may result in uncontrolled growth of cells leading to cancer or tumour

Significance of Mitosis
Mitosis becomes significant for the following reasons.

y Mitosis forms two daughter cells which will have the same chromosome number and same genetic material
as the parent cell.

y Daughter cells formed from mitosis are genetically identical to their parent cell and no variation would be
introduced during mitosis. This results in genetic stability within the populations of cells derived from parental cells, as in a clone.

y The number of cells within an organism increases by mitosis and this process is called hyperplasia. It forms
the basis for growth. If mitotic division goes uncontrolled in any part of the body, it results in the formation of malignant cells. These cells continue to divide resulting in the formation of malignant tumours. This condition is called cancer.

y Mitosis is the basis of asexual reproduction in both plants and animals. This becomes the basis for
vegetative propagation.

y Mitosis is also responsible for repair and regeneration of the injured and lost parts of the body.