Role of Mitosis
The process of mitosis is essential for growth and repair processes of eukaryotic organisms: mitosis is how we are able to replace our fingernails and hair as well as how our skin is replaced. The table below summarises the role of mitosis in various processes ...
The Role of Mitosis
The process of mitosis is essential for growth and repair processes of eukaryotic organisms: mitosis is how we are able to replace our fingernails and hair as well as how our skin is replaced. The table below summarises the role of mitosis in various processes in eukaryotic organisms.
| Living Process | Role of Mitosis |
| Development and growth | The number of cells increases by mitosis enabling organisms to grow from a single cell to a complex multicellular organism. |
| Cell replacement | Cells are constantly lost and replaced by new ones in the body, for example in the skin and in the gut. In addition, red blood cells live for only four months, and are replaced by mitosis. |
| Replacement of damaged plant or animal tissue (regeneration) | Some organisms use mitosis to replace body parts. For example starfish replace lost arms by mitosis. |
| Asexual reproduction | Some organisms such as the hydra use mitosis to produce genetically identical offspring. The process is known as budding. Mitosis is also the method by which yeast cells multiply. |
The figure below shows asexual reproduction in a ciliate organism. Asexual reproduction uses mitosis.
Fact:
Hair has the highest rate of mitosis. An average hair grows 0.3 mm every day and 1 cm every month.
This lesson is part of:
Introducing the Cell