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Related Concept Videos

Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Determining the Plane of Cell Division02:13

Determining the Plane of Cell Division

Positioning the cell division plane is a critical step during development and cell differentiation, particularly during mitosis when the plane is essential for determining the size of the two daughter cells. The cell division plane is perpendicular to the plane of chromosome segregation, but different types of organisms have different cell division mechanisms to suit their morphology and function. 
Animal cells
In animal cells, the cleavage furrow forms along the plane of cell division starting...
Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content02:33

Distribution of Cytoplasmic Content

Cytokinesis segregates a cell’s chromosomes and organelles into its daughter cells. Organelles divide and grow prior to cell division but cannot be synthesized de novo; therefore, cells must receive at least one copy of each organelle to survive. Currently, many of the details of how the organelles are distributed are not yet fully elucidated.
Distribution of cytoplasmic determinants
The cytoplasm contains various organelles, as well as salts, proteins, and water. The distribution of small...
Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division01:27

Molecular Factors Affecting Cell Division

Several external and internal factors influence the initiation and inhibition of cell division. For instance, the death of nearby cells or the release of human growth hormone (hGH) promotes cell division. In contrast, lack of hGH or crowding of cells can inhibit cell division.
Several proteins function as internal regulators to ensure each cell cycle stage is completed faithfully before proceeding to the next. Regulator molecules may act directly or influence the activity or production of other...
Determination01:51

Determination

During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...
Binary Fission01:20

Binary Fission

Fission is the division of a single entity into two or more parts, which regenerate into separate entities that resemble the original. Organisms in the Archaea and Bacteria domains reproduce using binary fission, in which a parent cell splits into two parts that can each grow to the size of the original parent cell. This asexual method of reproduction produces cells that are all genetically identical.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Analysis of Multidimensional Microscopy Data Using Cell-ACDC
06:17

Analysis of Multidimensional Microscopy Data Using Cell-ACDC

Published on: November 7, 2025

Determining to divide: how do cells decide?

Kendall A Smith1

  • 1The Division of Immunology, Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College, Cornell University, New York, NY U.S.A.

Journal of Biological Physics
|January 25, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Cell division fidelity relies on counting surface receptors like interleukin-2 (IL2) and assembling molecular complexes. This quantal decision ensures cell survival and proper replication.

Keywords:
DNA replicationJanus kinases (JAK)Restriction point (R-point)cell cyclecyclincyclin-dependent kinases (CDK)interleukin-2 (IL2)quantalretinoblastoma (Rb) proteins

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Cell Sorting of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells from the Adult Mouse Subventricular Zone and Live-imaging of their Cell Cycle Dynamics
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Simultaneous Assessment of Kinship, Division Number, and Phenotype via Flow Cytometry for Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
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Simultaneous Assessment of Kinship, Division Number, and Phenotype via Flow Cytometry for Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

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Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Analysis of Multidimensional Microscopy Data Using Cell-ACDC
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Published on: November 7, 2025

Cell Sorting of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells from the Adult Mouse Subventricular Zone and Live-imaging of their Cell Cycle Dynamics
09:27

Cell Sorting of Neural Stem and Progenitor Cells from the Adult Mouse Subventricular Zone and Live-imaging of their Cell Cycle Dynamics

Published on: September 14, 2015

Simultaneous Assessment of Kinship, Division Number, and Phenotype via Flow Cytometry for Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells
10:20

Simultaneous Assessment of Kinship, Division Number, and Phenotype via Flow Cytometry for Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cells

Published on: March 24, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Cell division is tightly regulated to prevent life-threatening abnormalities.
  • Cellular division rates vary significantly even in genetically identical clones.
  • Interleukin-2 (IL2) receptor signaling dictates T lymphocyte division timing.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the cell's quantal decision to divide.
  • To investigate how cells count external signals and internal molecular complexes.
  • To explore the role of macromolecular complexes in fundamental cellular decisions.

Main Methods:

  • Single-cell studies on T lymphocytes to analyze cell division rates.
  • Investigating the role of ligand-triggered IL2 receptors and D-type cyclins.
  • Examining the assembly and disassembly of pre-replication complexes (Pre-RCs).

Main Results:

  • Cell division is triggered by accumulating a critical number of IL2 receptors.
  • D-type cyclins act as intracellular sensors, regulating passage through the Restriction Point.
  • Pre-RC assembly and disassembly are crucial, asynchronous events during S-phase.

Conclusions:

  • Cellular division decisions are quantal (all-or-none), regulated by macromolecular mechanisms.
  • The assembly/disassembly of macromolecular complexes likely underlies fundamental cellular decisions.
  • Further research is needed to understand signal counting and molecular forces governing complex behavior.