How do most cells divide (mitosis)?

Cells need to divide for your body to grow and for body tissue such as skin to continuously renew itself. When a cell divides, the outer membrane increasingly pinches inward until the new cells that are forming separate from each other. This process typically produces two new (daughter) cells from one (parent) cell.

Illustration: Process of cell division (mitosis)

During cell division, the contents of the parent cell are copied and divided between the two daughter cells. Before this can happen, the nucleus of the parent cell needs to divide. The division of the nucleus is an important part of normal cell division: It ensures that the daughter cells have the same genetic information as the parent cell.

What happens during mitosis?

Illustration: The genetic information is stored in the DNA in the nucleus of the cell The genetic information is stored in the DNA in the nucleus of the cell. You can picture the DNA as long threads inside the nucleus. These threads are the chromosomes.
Illustration: Before a cell divides, its entire genetic information is copied Before a cell divides, its entire genetic information is replicated: An identical copy of each chromosome is made.
Illustration: The strands of DNA condense and become visible The strands of DNA become more tightly packed into a condensed form and can be seen under a microscope. Each original DNA strand and its copy remain attached to each other in one place.
Illustration: The chromosomes line up along the center of the cell After that, the membrane surrounding the nucleus breaks down and the chromosomes line up along the center of the cell.
Illustration: The two copies of the individual chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cell There they separate, and the two copies of the individual chromosomes move to opposite sides of the cell. The cell membrane starts pinching inward.
Illustration: The genetic information is enclosed in a new nuclear membrane in each of the daughter cells The genetic information is enclosed in a new nuclear membrane in each of the daughter cells.
Illustration: Both daughter cells have the same genetic information as the parent cell The chromosomes uncoil and turn into long threads of DNA again. Each of the two daughter cells now contain the same genetic information as the parent cell. Both cells often assume the same function as the parent cell. But sometimes one of the two daughter cells develops into a cell that performs a different job.

Menche N (Ed). Biologie Anatomie Physiologie. Munich: Urban und Fischer; 2016.

Pschyrembel. Klinisches Wörterbuch. Berlin: De Gruyter; 2017.

Schmidt R, Lang F, Heckmann M. Physiologie des Menschen: mit Pathophysiologie. Berlin: Springer; 2017.

IQWiG health information is written with the aim of helping people understand the advantages and disadvantages of the main treatment options and health care services.

Because IQWiG is a German institute, some of the information provided here is specific to the German health care system. The suitability of any of the described options in an individual case can be determined by talking to a doctor. informedhealth.org can provide support for talks with doctors and other medical professionals, but cannot replace them. We do not offer individual consultations.

Our information is based on the results of good-quality studies. It is written by a team of health care professionals, scientists and editors, and reviewed by external experts. You can find a detailed description of how our health information is produced and updated in our methods.

Comment on this page

What would you like to share with us?

We welcome any feedback and ideas - either via our form or by gi-kontakt@iqwig.de. We will review, but not publish, your ratings and comments. Your information will of course be treated confidentially. Fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required fields.

Please note that we do not provide individual advice on matters of health. You can read about where to find help and support in Germany in our information “How can I find self-help groups and information centers?

Über diese Seite

Updated on January 30, 2023

Next planned update: 2026

Publisher:

Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care (IQWiG, Germany)

How we keep you informed

Follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter or newsfeed. You can find all of our films online on YouTube.