How your body builds itself by perfectly copying its blueprint

Science · Published 27 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Every time your body heals a wound or grows a new cell, it performs a high-stakes feat of biological engineering. It must duplicate your entire genetic code and distribute it with zero errors. This is mitosis: the precise mechanism of cellular cloning that sustains life.

Mitosis is the process by which a single eukaryotic cell divides to produce two genetically identical daughter cells. While it is the engine of growth and tissue repair in multicellular organisms, it is also the fundamental basis for asexual reproduction in some single-celled organisms. The process ensures that each new cell receives an exact copy of every chromosome, maintaining the genetic integrity of the organism. The journey begins in interphase, specifically during the S phase, where DNA synthesis replicates the genetic material. Each chromosome then consists of two sister chromatids joined at a centromere. Five distinct periods—prophase, prometaphase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase—traditionally categorise the M phase, which represents the true division. Prophase alone occupies over half of the mitotic process, involving the thickening of chromosomes, the disintegration of the nucleolus, and the formation of the mitotic spindle from microtubules.

During the middle stages, the 'mitotic apparatus' aligns the replicated chromosomes along the metaphase plate. In anaphase, the sister chromatids are pulled to opposite ends of the cell by spindle fibres. This is followed by cytokinesis, the physical separation of the cytoplasm into two distinct cells. In actively dividing animal cells, this entire sequence can take about one hour. This cycle is influenced by external factors like temperature, chemicals, and the time of day, and it is essential for everything from wound healing to the development of the zygote.

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