How Do Cells Divide? - Genetics - MedlinePlus

Skip navigation

Official websites use .govA .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPSA lock ( Lock Locked padlock icon ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

You Are Here: Home → Genetics → Help Me Understand Genetics → How Genes Work → How do cells divide? URL of this page: https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/understanding/howgeneswork/cellsdivide/ How do cells divide?

There are two types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis. Most of the time when people refer to “cell division,” they mean mitosis, the process of making new body cells. Meiosis is the type of cell division that creates egg and sperm cells.

Mitosis is a fundamental process for life. During mitosis, a cell duplicates all of its contents, including its chromosomes, and splits to form two identical daughter cells. Because this process is so critical, the steps of mitosis are carefully controlled by certain genes. When mitosis is not regulated correctly, health problems such as cancer can result.

The other type of cell division, meiosis, ensures that humans have the same number of chromosomes in each generation. It is a two-step process that reduces the chromosome number by half—from 46 to 23—to form sperm and egg cells. When the sperm and egg cells unite at conception, each contributes 23 chromosomes so the resulting embryo will have the usual 46. Meiosis also allows genetic variation through a process of gene shuffling while the cells are dividing.

Mitosis and meiosis, the two types of cell division.

Credit: U.S. National Library of Medicine

For more information about cell division:

The National Human Genome Research Institute's Talking Glossary provides information about mitosis and meiosis.

The Genetic Science Learning Center from the University of Utah has information about cell division.

Topics in the How Genes Work chapter

• What are proteins and what do they do?
• How do genes direct the production of proteins?
• Can genes be turned on and off in cells?
• What is epigenetics?
• How do cells divide?
• How do genes control the growth and division of cells?
• How do geneticists indicate the location of a gene?

Other chapters in Help Me Understand Genetics

The information on this site should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or advice. Contact a health care provider if you have questions about your health.

Learn how to cite this page