Editing Mitosis (section)

== Function ==
The function or significance of mitosis, is the maintenance of the chromosomal set; each formed cell receives chromosomes that are alike in composition and equal in number to the chromosomes of the parent cell.

Mitosis occurs in the following circumstances:
*Development and growth: The number of cells within an organism increases by mitosis. This is the basis of the development of a multicellular body from a single cell, i.e., [[zygote]] and also the basis of the growth of a [[multicellular]] body.
*Cell replacement: In some parts of the body, e.g. skin and digestive tract, cells are constantly sloughed off and replaced by new ones.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Sunderland |title=The Cell: A Molecular Approach. 2nd edition. |publisher=Sinauer Associates |year=2000 |edition=2nd}}</ref> New cells are formed by mitosis and so are exact copies of the cells being replaced. In like manner, [[red blood cells]] have a short lifespan (only about 3 months) and new RBCs are formed by mitosis.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Franco |first=Robert |date=27 August 2012 |title=Measurement of Red Cell Lifespan and Aging |journal=Transfusion Medicine and Hemotherapy |volume=39 |issue=5 |pages=302–307 |doi=10.1159/000342232 |pmid=23801920 |pmc=3678251 }}</ref>
*Regeneration: Some organisms can regenerate body parts. The production of new cells in such instances is achieved by mitosis. For example, [[starfish]] regenerate lost arms through mitosis.
*Asexual reproduction: Some organisms produce genetically similar offspring through [[asexual reproduction]]. For example, the [[hydra (genus)|hydra]] reproduces asexually by budding. The cells at the surface of hydra undergo mitosis and form a mass called a bud. Mitosis continues in the cells of the bud and this grows into a new individual. The same division happens during asexual reproduction or [[vegetative propagation]] in plants.