Cell division is different from the cell cycle, and it is a process whereby parent cells divide into two or more daughter cells.
Cell division cycle is a process whereby a single parent cell divides into two or more identical daughter cells. Cell division is a process that occurs as a part of the cell cycle.
Cell division cycle is a process by which a single parent cell divides itself into 2 or more daughter cells. This generally occurs as a part of the cell cycle, and hence the cells increase in number through this process of division. It is one of the prime aspects of the growth and development of multicellular organisms, as new cells are needed to replace dead and damaged cells.
There are 2 main types of cell division:
I) Mitosis:
It is a process where a parent cell gives rise to two identical daughter cells.
There are 4 phases in mitosis: Prophase, Metaphase, Anaphase, and Telophase.
The main purpose of this type of division is to grow and replace worn-out cells.
They occur only in the somatic cells.
The chromosomal numbers remain the same in this type of divisional process.
They also do not allow for genetic recombination.
II) Meiosis:
Meiosis is divided into 2 phases: Phase I and Phase II.
The division of cells happens twice in this process.
There are 4 phases in Meiosis I; they are :
i) Prophase I- further divided into:
Source: Stages of prophase
ii) Metaphase I - The bivalent chromosomes are arranged on the equatorial plate. The microtubules from the opposite poles attach to the kinetochore of homologous chromosomes.
iii) Anaphase I- Homologous chromosomes separate and sister chromatids remain attached to the centromeres.
iv) Telophase I - The nuclear membrane and nucleolus reappears. Cytokinesis follows after this phase.
Source: Difference between mitosis and meiosis
Significance of Meiosis: