Reproduction and cell division

This course is a part of High school biology, a 9-course Topic series from Khan Academy.

All living things are made up of cells. Find out how cells divide through mitosis, how the cell cycle is controlled, and meiosis.

This course contains 5 segments:

Types of reproduction

Learn about sexual and asexual reproduction, and how starfish can regrow limbs.

Chromosome structure and numbers

Learn how DNA, the genetic material of living organisms, is organized into chromosomes and chromatids.

The cell cycle and mitosis

Imagine scraping your elbow. Ouch! In addition to being a little uncomfortable, you just lost a bunch of skin cells. How does your body make new cells to replace ones that are damaged or lost? Some of the remaining cells can divide (undergo mitosis) to produce new, healthy replacement cells. Learn more about mitosis and how cells divide.

Meiosis

Normal human body cells have two complete sets of chromosomes, while sperm and egg cells have just one set each. How, then, does a normal body cell give rise to sperm or eggs? The answer lies in a two-step division process called meiosis. Learn more about meiosis and how it contributes to genetic variation in humans (and other sexually reproducing organisms).

Fertilization and development

How does your body end up with a wide array of cell types, from the smell receptors in your nose to the detoxifying cells in your liver? Learn how cells become specialized during development.