Cell Cycle: Mitosis, Meiosis, and Binary Fission

In this video, I explain the cell cycle, the series of events a cell undergoes to divide into two (or four) daughter cells. In eukaryotic cells (such as animal and plant cells), there are two main types of cell division: mitosis and meiosis.

Mitosis is the process by which body cells clone themselves, producing two daughter cells that each have the same number of chromosomes as the parent cell. In contrast, meiosis generates gametes, or sex cells (sperm and egg cells). This process involves first duplicating the chromosomes, then undergoing crossover to exchange genetic material, and finally completing two rounds of cell division to produce four daughter cells, each with half the number of chromosomes as the parent cell.

In bacteria, cell division occurs through binary fission, a process that does not involve a spindle apparatus to separate duplicated chromosomes, unlike mitosis and meiosis.
Time stamps:

Cell cycle is the series by which a cell divides into 2 daughter cells: 0:00
Two distinct types of cell division in eukaryotes: mitosis and meiosis: 0:31
Mitosis: Replicated chromosomes are separated into 2 new identical nuclei: 0:42
- Illustration of mitosis: 3:20
- Detailed diagram of mitosis: 5:55
Nucleosome is the basic structural unit of DNA packaging in eukaryotes: 11:48
Animation of a ribosome biological machine that translates mRNA into protein: 19:44
Zoomed in diagram of mitosis: 21:12
Diagram: Mitosis divides chromosomes in a cell nucleus: 25:49
Micrograph of microtubules pulling chromosomes during mitosis metaphase: 28:19
Micrograph illustrations of different stages of mitosis: 29:30
Animation of mitosis: 31:56
Most human cells are produced by mitosis besides the gametes (sperm and egg cells) which are produced by meiosis: 33:06
Meiosis undergoes 1 replication phase and 2 divisions resulting in 4 haploid daughter cells: 33:28
- Diagram of interphase (DNA duplication) and Meiosis 1 and 2 division: 34:44
Comparison of meiosis vs mitosis: 38:52
Law of independent assortment: alleles segregate independently of each other: 41:11
Gene is a sequence of nucleotides in DNA that encodes the synthesis of a gene product (RNA or protein): 42:52
Synapsis is the pairing of 2 chromosomes during meiosis with possible genetic crossover: 45:18
Genetic crossover can also occur during mitotic division which result in a loss of genetic diversity: 48:03
Detailed comparison between meiosis vs mitosis: 54:44
Prokaryotes undergo cell division (or binary fission) without the formation of a spindle apparatus: 1:00:12
- Diagram of binary fission: 1:03:45
Plasmid is a small extrachromosomal DNA molecule in bacteria that is separated from chromosomal DNA: 1:05:04
- Illustration and micrograph of bacterial chromosomal DNA and plasmids: 1:06:24