1. One way that cells can propagate is by dividing into two identical copies. Eukaryotic cells undergo a process called mitosis. Most importantly, during mitosis each resulting cell must have a complete copy of the genetic information present in the parental cells DNA.
2. Mitosis generates exact copies of each of chromosomes present in the parental cell and places one copy of each into each daughter cell. By so doing mitosis creates exact genetic replicas of the original cell.
3. Cell division is an elaborate process. During mitosis the cell first replicates all of the DNA present in the chromosomes, generating a second copy of each one. Later, these chromosomes segregate to the two daughter cells. In eukaryotic cells the processes of DNA replication and division are separated in time. Cells have a schedule for accomplishing these two processes; this schedule is called the cell cycle.

Pages in this unit:

1. Passage of genetic information to succeeding generations: cell division
2. Eukaryotic DNA is organized into chromosomes
3. The schedule of DNA replication and separation: the cell cycle